Impact of accelerometer and pedometer use on physical activity and glycaemic control in people with Type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Abstract
Background: Self‐directed pedometer use increases physical activity levels in the general population; however, evidence of benefit for Type 2 diabetes is unclear and has not been systematically reviewed for accelerometers. Aim: To examine the impact of using physical activity monitoring devices (pedometers and accelerometers) on free‐living physical activity and HbA 1c levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review. Bibliographic databases included Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, SportDiscus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included controlled trials evaluating interventions based on the use of pedometers or accelerometers to promote physical activity in people with Type 2 diabetes. Primary outcomes were physical activity (min/week or steps) and HbA 1c [mmol/mol (%)]. Secondary outcomes were weight, blood pressure and lipid profile. Results: Twelve trials (1458 participants) were identified, of which nine studied pedometers and three accelerometers. Random‐effects meta‐analysis showed an overall increase in physical activity (standardized mean difference 0.57, 95% CI 0.24, 0.91) in the intervention groups. Accelerometers and pedometers produced a similar effect size. No significant differences were observed in HbA 1c, BMI, blood pressure or lipid profile. Conclusions: People with Type 2 diabetes, provided with an accelerometer or pedometer, substantially increased their free‐living physical activity. There is no evidence that monitor use alone improves HbA 1c or other clinical outcomes. Further trials are needed to compare the relative effects of activity monitors within differing complex interventions.
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Evidence from randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews indicates that fitness trackers are effective at increasing physical activity, as measured by daily steps and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
“Evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews indicates that fitness trackers are effective at increasing physical activity, as measured by daily steps and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) [17,24,25].”
From Economic evaluation of wearable fitness trackers versus metformin for preventing type 2 diabetes in the UK population (2025) · cites this paper as [17]
Recent reviews have highlighted the effectiveness of fitness trackers in increasing physical activity levels and improving health outcomes related to chronic disease management.
“Recent reviews have highlighted their effectiveness in increasing physical activity levels and improving health outcomes related to chronic disease management [17,18].”
From Economic evaluation of wearable fitness trackers versus metformin for preventing type 2 diabetes in the UK population (2025) · cites this paper as [17]
Recent reviews have shown that CWATs have potential to increase physical activity.
“Although recent reviews have shown that CWATs have potential to increase physical activity, they included only one type of chronic disease [19, 20] or solely pedometers [14, 21].”
Recent reviews of CWATs included only one type of chronic disease or solely pedometers.
“Although recent reviews have shown that CWATs have potential to increase physical activity, they included only one type of chronic disease [19, 20] or solely pedometers [14, 21].”
Most reviews did not (or partly) report a cardiometabolic risk profile.
“In addition, conclusions are not based on randomised controlled trials [14, 22] and most of reviews did not (or partly) report a cardiometabolic risk profile [15, 19, 20, 23].”
Use of physical activity trackers has been associated with increased physical activity in people with T2D, which can be maintained for up to 12 months.
“Use of PA trackers has been associated with increased PA in people with T2D,13 which can be maintained for up to 12 months.14”
Increasing physical activity, both through purposeful exercise and unstructured lifestyle behaviours, is fundamental to the initial treatment of type 2 diabetes and recommended in international guidelines.
“Increasing physical activity (PA), both through purposeful exercise and unstructured lifestyle behaviours is fundamental to the initial treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and recommended in international guidelines.”
The retention rate compares well with studies in a systematic review of pedometer/accelerometer interventions in T2D (n=7, mean 78%, range 63%-98%).
“The retention rate also compares well with studies included in a systematic review of interventions using pedometers or accelerometers to promote PA in people with T2D (n=7 randomised trials, mean 78%, range 63%–98%).13”
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- Authors
- Baskerville, R., Ricci‐Cabello, I., Roberts, N., & Farmer, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Baskerville, R.
- Venue
- Diabetic Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-03-19
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 612-620
- ISSN
- 0742-3071 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-5491
- OpenAlex
- W2586162961
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 5
- FWCI
- 1.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Diabetic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health Research
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
- Keywords
- type 2 diabetes, accelerometer, pedometers, physical activity monitoring, physical activity, glycemic control, HbA1c, self-monitoring, weight, blood pressure, lipid profile
- MeSH terms
- Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Lipids, Exercise, Actigraphy, Accelerometry
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