THE ROLE OF EXERCISE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Abstract

Gestational diabetes is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of any degree with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes requires treatment with dietary changes and exercise and/or insulin injections to keep maternal blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible and to prevent complications in both mother and baby. Women with gestational diabetes often need regular, moderate physical activity, such as walking, prenatal aerobics class, or swimming. Moderate physical activity is an important part of any healthy pregnancy. Regular moderately physical exercise is advised, although there is no consensus on the specific structure of exercise programs for gestational diabetes. Several epidemiological studies have suggested a robust link between physical activity and reduced risk of gestational diabetes; however, researchers have been unable to suggest a cost-effective, easily accessible, evidence-based program with guidelines for frequency, intensity, duration, and type of activity to prevent the incidence of gestational diabetes in sedentary, at-risk populations. The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study Group and the Diabetes Prevention Program demonstrated that aggressive lifestyle management involving nutrition therapy and daily exercise can reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60% as compared with the rates in a nonintervention control group of patients with impaired glucose tolerance, including, but not limited to, patients with previous gestational diabetes.