Trial results for a study investigating the effects of substituting sitting with standing and walking on daily glucose profiles in South Asian adults were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-24. The study found that a regimen with less sitting time reduced mean glycaemia from 98.5 to 89.4 mmol/L.16 h.
Background
Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, often linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical inactivity. Sedentary behavior, including prolonged sitting, is recognized as a significant contributor to cardiovascular risk factors and the development or progression of Type 2 Diabetes. For South Asian adults, who may have a higher predisposition to these conditions, understanding the impact of daily activity modifications is particularly relevant. Interventions that promote increased physical activity and reduced sitting time are crucial in managing and preventing metabolic disorders.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 18 participants to investigate conditions including Cardiovascular Risk Factor, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Sedentary Behavior. The trial aimed to examine the effects of substituting sitting under free-living conditions with standing and walking in South Asian adults who were overweight or obese. Participants underwent two distinct regimens: a 'SIT Regimen' characterized by typical sitting patterns and a 'SITless Regimen' where sitting was reduced and replaced by standing and walking.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements comparing the SIT Regimen and the SITless Regimen:
- Glycaemia (mmol/L.16 h):
- The SIT Regimen showed a mean glycaemia of 98.5 mmol/L.16 h.
- The SITless Regimen showed a mean glycaemia of 89.4 mmol/L.16 h.
- Sitting Time (h/day):
- Participants in the SIT Regimen had a mean sitting time of 10.6 h/day.
- Participants in the SITless Regimen had a mean sitting time of 7.0 h/day.
- Standing Time (h/day):
- The SIT Regimen involved a mean standing time of 3.8 h/day.
- The SITless Regimen involved a mean standing time of 5.7 h/day.
- Total Stepping Time (h/day):
- The SIT Regimen recorded a mean total stepping time of 1.2 h/day.
- The SITless Regimen recorded a mean total stepping time of 2.8 h/day.
What this means
The results suggest that actively reducing daily sitting time by incorporating more standing and walking can lead to an improvement in daily glucose profiles in South Asian adults. The observed decrease in mean glycaemia in the SITless Regimen, alongside increased standing and stepping time and decreased sitting time, highlights the potential of simple behavioral modifications as a non-pharmacological strategy for managing Type 2 Diabetes and related cardiovascular risks. Given the small sample size of 18 participants, these findings are preliminary and may warrant further investigation in larger cohorts.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04645875, titled "Substituting Sitting With Standing and Walking in Free-living Conditions Improves Daily Glucose Profile in South Asians", were posted on 2026-03-24 on clinicaltrials.gov.