Benefits of resistance exercise in women with gestational diabetes

In gestational diabetes, women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

Little is known about the effects of resistance exercise in this group of women. So, researchers at the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, in Brazil, studied the effects.

First, the details.

• 64 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to a treatment group.
  • Exercise group using an elastic band
  • Control group that did not include the exercise program

And, the results.

• There was a significant reduction in the number of patients who required insulin in the exercise group vs the control group.
  • 7 of 32 women in the exercise group vs 18 of 32 in the control group
• The percentage of time spent within the proposed target blood sugar range (at least 80% of weekly measurements below preestablished limits) was significantly higher in exercise groups vs the control group.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “The resistance exercise program was effective in reducing the number of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus who required insulin and in improving capillary glycemic control.”

Other research has shown the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in reducing the frequency of women using insulin.

Now, we know more about its benefits in pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

10/20/10 21:00 JR