The Effects of Qigong on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Qigong on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using the systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods All prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials published in English or Chinese and involving the use of Qigong by patients with DM were searched in 7 electronic databases from their respective inception to June 2016. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Revman 5.2. The quality of the included trials was assessed using the Jadad rating scale. Two researchers independently completed the inclusion, data extraction, and quality assessment. Results Twenty-one trials with 1326 patients met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The meta-analysis demonstrated that, compared with no exercise, the Qigong had significant effects on fasting blood glucose (MD = -0.99, 95% CI (-1.23, 0.75), P < 0.0001), HbA1c (MD = -0.84, 95% CI (-1.02, -0.65), P < 0.0001), and postprandial blood glucose (MD = -1.55, 95% CI (-2.19, -0.91), P < 0.00001). Conclusion The Qigong training can improve the blood glucose status of the type 2 DM patients and has positive effects on the management of type 2 DM. However, future research with better quality still needs to be conducted to address the effects of Qigong on type 2 DM.