Tai chi and blood glucose: research overview
Not medical advice. This page lists research about tai chi and blood glucose. It does not say whether tai chi works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.
- Studies in PubMed
- 15 (tagged with “Blood Glucose” as a major topic)
- Years
- 2008–2026
- Registered trials
- 0 on ClinicalTrials.gov
Types of studies
| Publication type | Studies |
|---|---|
| Meta-Analysis | 3 |
| Systematic Review | 2 |
| Randomized Controlled Trial | 4 |
| Clinical Trial | 1 |
| Journal Article | 5 |
Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.
Studies, newest first
- Exercise modalities and dosages on glycated haemoglobin and exerkines in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with pairwise, network, and dose-response meta-analyses. — Cardiovascular diabetology, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
- The effect of Tai Chi on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
- Effects of combined resistance training and Tai Chi on oxidative stress, blood glucose and lipid metabolism and quality of life in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. — Research in sports medicine (Print), 2024 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
- Effects of Taijiquan on glucose and lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. — Medicine, 2021 · DOI
- Effects of different aerobic exercise training on glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis. — Medicine, 2021 · DOI
- Different training durations and styles of tai chi for glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2019 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
- The Effects of Tai Chi on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis. — Journal of diabetes research, 2018 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
- Effects of habitual t'ai chi exercise on adiponectin, glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and atherosclerotic burden in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2013 · DOI
- The effect of Tai Chi on health-related quality of life in people with elevated blood glucose or diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. — Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2013 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
- [The effect of tai chi for blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipid control for patients with chronic diseases: a systematic review]. — Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2013 · DOISystematic Review
- Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on glucose control, neuropathy scores, balance, and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2012 · DOI
- Effects of Tai Chi on adiponectin and glucose homeostasis in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. — European journal of applied physiology, 2011 · DOI
- Adhering to a t'ai chi program to improve glucose control and quality of life for individuals with type 2 diabetes. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2009 · DOIClinical Trial
- Effects of 14-week Tai Ji Quan exercise on metabolic control in women with type 2 diabetes. — The American journal of Chinese medicine, 2008Randomized Controlled Trial
- Effects of Tai Chi on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomised double-blind sham-exercise-controlled trial. — Age and ageing, 2008Randomized Controlled Trial
Government health information
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on tai chi.
Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.