Recreational football can improve health in people with diabetes and prediabetes

Regular physical activity is important for people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, but getting started and maintaining an exercise routine over time can be challenging.

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and the University of the Faroe Islands have therefore developed Football for Diabetes, a guide to football training that can be adapted for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

With small teams, simple exercises and opportunities to adjust the pace and intensity, the aim is to make football an accessible form of exercise for more people, regardless of their fitness level or previous experience of the game.

Football that everyone can take part in

Rather than expecting participants to be able to play traditional football, the training is designed around their individual abilities. Exercises, rules and intensity can all be adapted to accommodate both beginners and more experienced players.

The manual includes a 12-week training programme with two sessions per week. Each session combines a warm-up, ball exercises and small-sided games. The aim is for participants to benefit from physical exercise while also enjoying playing alongside others.

– We know from many years of research that football is an effective and versatile form of exercise, even for people who have never played before. But what makes football special is that it offers more than just effective exercise. You play with others, become part of a community and hopefully look forward to coming back for the next session. That's the combination we want to make available to people with prediabetes and diabetes, says Peter Krustrup, Professor at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark.

The manual also provides guidance on specific considerations for people with diabetes. These include assessing participants' foot health and sensation in their feet, as well as adapting training to accommodate different fitness levels and health conditions.

A sense of community can help maintain motivation

An important principle behind Football for Diabetes is that physical activity should be about more than just the health benefits of exercise. The enjoyment of playing with others and being part of a community can also help people stay motivated.

– One of the biggest challenges is not just helping people become physically active, but also encouraging them to maintain an active lifestyle over time. Football offers a unique combination of effective exercise, enjoyment and social interaction that can help sustain motivation, says May-Britt Skoradal, Associate Professor at the University of the Faroe Islands.

Built on two decades of research

For around 20 years, Peter Krustrup and his colleagues have investigated the health benefits of recreational football, including among people living with various chronic conditions.

Their research has shown that recreational football can improve cardiovascular fitness, body composition, blood pressure, bone strength and several other aspects of health. The new manual also draws on a number of studies involving people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

It brings together existing knowledge and translates it into a training programme that can be used beyond the university setting.

– For many years, we have studied how recreational football provides three types of training in one, improving cardiovascular fitness, metabolic fitness and musculoskeletal fitness. Now the focus is on putting that knowledge into practice through the manual and a large number of courses in Denmark and internationally. We want many more people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes to have the opportunity to experience both the health benefits and the sense of community that football offers, says Peter Krustrup.

The manual was developed by Peter Krustrup and Tina-Thea Nielsen from the University of Southern Denmark in collaboration with May-Britt Skoradal and Magni Mohr from the University of the Faroe Islands. Magni Mohr is also affiliated with SDU.

Social connections can help combat isolation

Football for Diabetes was developed with input and expert discussions involving the International Diabetes Federation Europe (IDF Europe), which helped strengthen the manual's relevance to diabetes prevention and treatment.

The organisation highlights that the social connections created through team sports can be particularly valuable for people living with a chronic condition.

– Beyond the physical health benefits, team sports can strengthen social relationships, foster a sense of belonging and improve mental well-being. This can help counteract the isolation and stigma that people with diabetes may experience, says Marian Brennan from IDF Europe.

By bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, sports organisations and local communities, the partners hope to make it easier for more people with diabetes to take part in regular physical activity.

The new manual will be promoted through Football for Diabetes courses and the international Football is Medicine conference, which will take place at SDU in Odense in January 2027.