The Study
Creatine Supplementation Combined with Exercise in the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Effects on Insulin Resistance and Sarcopenia
This study didn't do its own experiments—it looked at other studies that did. It says that when people take creatine and exercise together, their blood sugar often gets better, but it doesn't prove that creatine is the reason. It's like noticing that people who eat more apples also seem healthier—but we don't know if the apples are what made them healthy.
Analysis score
Maximum 5 for a narrative review.
Where the score came from
Creatine is a natural supplement that helps muscles store energy. When combined with exercise, it helps muscle cells pull more sugar from the blood.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 52 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — lowering HbA1c by even 1% reduces diabetes complications.
- 2This effect happened without gaining muscle mass, meaning creatine helps sugar enter muscles directly.
- 3In a 12-week study, people with type 2 diabetes who took 5g of creatine daily and exercised saw their HbA1c (a 3-month blood sugar average) drop significantly.
- 4Their blood sugar after meals also improved.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2025
Authors
Ewelina Młynarska, Klaudia Leszto, Kinga Katańska, Aleksandra Prusak, Anna Wieczorek, Paulina Jakubowska, Jacek Rysz, Beata Franczyk
Related Content
Claims (6)
Creatine supplementation is associated with improved physical function and maintained muscle mass in older adults.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, taking 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily along with 12 weeks of structured resistance and aerobic exercise reduces HbA1c and postprandial glucose levels by increasing the movement of GLUT4 to muscle cell membranes without increasing the total amount of GLUT4 protein.
Taking creatine monohydrate at standard doses does not cause meaningful harm to the kidneys or liver in adults with type 2 diabetes or older adults, even though it may temporarily raise blood creatinine levels due to normal metabolic conversion.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, taking creatine without exercising does not significantly improve blood sugar control. Any metabolic benefit from creatine requires simultaneous physical activity.
Creatine supplementation increases the movement of GLUT4 transporters to the muscle cell membrane during exercise, resulting in greater glucose uptake into muscle cells, regardless of whether total GLUT4 protein levels or muscle size change, in both healthy people and individuals with type 2 diabetes.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, doing both strength training and cardio exercise together leads to larger decreases in HbA1c and better insulin sensitivity than doing either type of exercise alone.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.