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Breaking sitting with light activities vs structured exercise: a randomised crossover study demonstrating benefits for glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes
Four-day free-living crossover in adults with type 2 diabetes (n=19): reallocating sitting to standing plus light walking ('sit less') lowered 24-hour glucose iAUC versus prolonged sitting and improved HOMA2-IR versus both sitting and a structured cycling programme.
Design
- Randomised crossover, 19 adults with type 2 diabetes (no insulin)
- 4-day free-living arms: Sitting (~14 h/day sitting; ~4,415 steps), Exercise (~1.1 h/day MV cycling), Sit less (~2.5 h extra standing + ~2.2 h light walking; ~17,502 steps)
Key contrasts (trial-reported p values)
- 24 h glucose iAUC: Sit less < Sitting (p = 0.002); Sit less vs Exercise not different (p = 0.499)
- HOMA2-IR: Sit less improved vs Sitting (p = 0.001) and vs Exercise (p = 0.015)
Protocol placement
Indexed under Walking for glucose control as NEAT / anti-sitting evidence complementary to post-meal walks.
Publication
Duvivier BM, Schaper NC, Hesselink MK, et al. Diabetologia. 2017 Mar;60(3):490-498. PMID 27904925.
Outcomes
- 24-hour glucose incremental AUC lower in Sit less vs prolonged Sitting (p=0.002); similar iAUC between Sit less and structured moderate-to-vigorous cycling (p=0.499).
- HOMA2-IR improved in Sit less vs both Sitting (p=0.001) and structured Exercise (p=0.015) in within-person crossover contrasts.