How to Create a Friendly Intra-Uterine Environment for You and Your Baby- Exercise and Preventing Gestational Diabetes

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a carbohydrate intolerance of varying degrees of severity. The first detection of this condition is during pregnancy. The carbohydrate intolerance causes high blood glucose levels which can cause severe complications to the mother and fetus. The risk factors that contribute to the onset of GDM include a greater maternal age, polycystic ovarian syndrome, a family history of diabetes, and pregnancy- induced hypertension. Excess weight gain, overweight pregnancy, and a sedentary lifestyle have been proven to be the most common risk of women contracting GDM. Babies that are born under this condition are more likely to experience hypoglycemia after birth, obesity later in life, and endure longer hospital stays. More serious effects of GDM include preeclampsia, an emergency cesarean section, and death of the fetus. Furthermore, the mother is more likely to have excess weight post-partum, leading to a greater risk of developing obesity, hypertension and type II diabetes after pregnancy. According to research, aerobic physical activity has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent the onset of GDM, as well as lessen insulin dependence in women with GDM by controlling glucose levels and weight gain. 

Why is Exercise So Important During Pregnancy?

Maintaining a regular physical activity schedule during pregnancy has nothing but benefits to you and your child. Exercise has been shown to contribute to the health of both parties. When you exercise, your body begins to use glucose more efficiently, and excess weight is kept off.  Other benefits to exercise during pregnancyinclude improving energy levels, mood, posture, as well as preventing and or treating gestational diabetes, and making for an easier labor and delivery.     

How Does Exercise Prevent and Treat Gestational Diabetes? 

Most research has shown that the most effective way to prevent gestational diabetesis to maintain regular physical activity. Exercise can help to maintain a healthy weight as well as works to help the body become more sensitive to the insulin that the pancreas creates, which then leads to regulated blood sugar levels. Working to prevent Gestational Diabetes is very important because the onset of this condition could be the reason that you or your child develop type II diabetes, or obesity later in life.   

Why are some women afraid to stay active?

Being pregnant I’m sure you feel the need to protect your baby at all cost. Some might even think that exercising while pregnant can cause more harm than good. Reasons that you might be feeling this way include old myths that used to say that exercising could lead to miscarriages. This is not the case anymore and research has shown that, if done correctly, and within the appropriate guidelines, exercise will also never not have benefit to you and your baby.

 4 Ways to stay active while pregnant  

Popular activities during pregnancy include:

·      Swimming

·      Biking 

·      Going for a brisk walk

·      Yoga 

Why clinicians should inforce exercise

Exercise is a prescription used by healthcare providers for a variety of conditions and benefits. Aerobic exercise is encouraged throughout the gestational period to prevent and manage conditions such as GDM.  Exercise should be promoted by your health care provider. If you have any concerns about certain precautions that should be taken into consideration, contact your provider for more safety tips.  

Literature Review

A study done by Daniel, (2018) investigated the effects of blood glucose changes in women following an aerobic dance training program. Women were chosen to participate based on their fasting blood glucose level. The women were separated into two groups. One underwent an eight-week aerobic dance program that worked up to sixty-minute session, one did not. After the eight-week span, blood glucose levels were analyzed from both groups. The findings of this study showed a significant drop in the fasting blood glucose levels of the women that participated in the dance program compared to the group that did no extra aerobic exercise. A second study showed similar results. This was done by Coe, (2018) and examined the effects of an acute bout of moderate -intensity walking program done by women with GDM. This program spanned five days and consisted of thirty-minute walking increments on a treadmill.  Before and after each trial, glucose tolerance was tested. The results of this study showed significant improvements in glucose control following the acute bout activity. A third study conducted also showed improvements in glucose regulation by Han, (2019). This study consisted of additional aerobic exercise intervention with no intervention at all. The women who had the additional exercise intervention had a significant difference in their glucose levels following the program.

About the Author:

My name is Sara Thompson and I am currently a student at Westfield State University. I am pursing my undergraduate degree in Movement Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine.  I hope to complete my masters in Physician Assistant Studies and go into a more specialized field such as Obstetrics. I have always had an interest in this subject, and I hope to explore more of it throughout developing my education.  

References:

Daniel J, Dikki C, Ibrahim W. (2014). Aerobic dance exercise improves blood glucose level in     pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus. African Journal for physical, health       education, Recreation and dance, 20:1 273-281. 

Coe D, Conger S, Kendrick J, Howard B, Thompson D, Bassett D, White J. (2018). Postprandial walking reduces glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 23:1.