Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become one of the most serious and common chronic diseases around the world, leading to various complications and a reduction in life expectancy. Increased sedentary behavior (SB) and decreased physical activity (PA) are important contributors to the rising prevalence of DM. This article reviews the research progress on the pathogenesis of DM, the effects of SB and PA on the risk of DM, aiming to explore the influence of different PA intensities, amounts, frequencies, durations and types on the incidence of DM. Research has shown that blood glucose levels tend to increase with the prolongation of SB. Within a certain range, PA intensity and amount are negatively correlated with the risk of DM
Performing PA for more than 3 days per week maintains normal glucose tolerance and lower blood pressure
Engaging in 150-300 min of moderate-intensity exercise or 75-150 min of high-intensity exercise per week reduces the risk of DM
PA during leisure time reduces the risk of DM, while PA during work increases the risk of DM
Both aerobic training and resistance training reduce the risk of DM, and the combination of the two training methods produces better benefits
Various types of exercises, such as cycling, soccer, aerobics, yoga and tai chi, all reduce the risk of DM. In summary, prolonged SB increases the risk of DM, while appropriate PA reduces the risk of DM. As the intensity, amount, and frequency of PA increase, the effect of reducing DM risk becomes more significant. Different exercise methods have different effects on reducing DM risk.