OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of Internet-based exercise on glycaemic control, blood lipids, body composition, physical activity level, functional capacity, and quality of life with supervised group exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized controlled study. SETTING: A Faculty of Health Sciences. SUBJECTS: A total of 65 patients with type 2 diabetes (47 women, 18 men). INTERVENTION: Group A (n = 22), control group -- physical activity counselling once with a brochure. Group B (n = 22), supervised group-based exercise, three days per week for eight weeks. Group C (n = 21), Internet-based exercise following the same programme via a website. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes -- glycosylated haemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, high-density and low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and cholesterol. Secondary outcomes -- waist and hip circumferences, body mass index, number of steps, six-minute walking test, and Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension. RESULTS: After treatment, glycaemic control (mean change for group B, group C; -0.80%, -0.91%, p = 0.003), waist circumference (-4.23 cm, 5.64 cm, p = 0.006), and quality of life (0.26, 0.15, p = 0.013) significantly improved in both training groups compared with the control group. Fasting blood glucose (-46.86 mg/dL, p = 0.009) and hip circumference (-2.7 cm, p = 0.011) were significantly decreased in group B and total cholesterol (-16.4 mg/dL, p = 0.028), six-minute walking distance (30.5 m, p = 0.01), and number of steps (1,258.05, p = 0.023) significantly improved in group C compared with control group. Group B and group C changed with equal magnitude. CONCLUSION: In type 2 diabetes, supervised group-based and Internet-based exercise can improve equally glycaemic control, waist circumference, and quality of life, and both are better than simply counselling.

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