• Voluntary wheel running improves endothelial progenitor cell function in type 2 diabetic rats.
• The beneficial effects are mediated by activation of the IGF-1 receptor/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
• Exercise enhances proliferation, migration, and tube formation of endothelial progenitor cells.
• Gene silencing of IGF-1 receptor abolishes the exercise-induced improvements, confirming the pathway's role.