Optimizing Blood Glucose Control through the Timing of Exercise in Pregnant Individuals Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Áine Brislane, Ly-Anh Reid, Gyan Bains, Kelly Greenwall, Rshmi Khurana and Margie H. Davenport ()
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Áine Brislane: Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Ly-Anh Reid: Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Gyan Bains: Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Kelly Greenwall: Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Rshmi Khurana: Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
Margie H. Davenport: Program for Pregnancy & Postpartum Health, Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of moderate intensity walking on postprandial blood glucose control for pregnant individuals with (GDM) and without gestational diabetes mellitus (NON-GDM). Using a randomized cross-over design, individuals completed 5 days of exercise (three 10-min walks immediately after eating (SHORT), or one 30-min walk (LONG) outside of 1 h after eating). These protocols were preceded and separated by 2-days of habitual exercise (NORMAL). Individuals were instrumented with a continuous glucose monitor, a physical activity monitor for 14-days, and a heart rate monitor during exercise. Participants completed a physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES) to indicate their protocol preference. The GDM group had higher fasting, 24-h mean, and daily peak glucose values compared to NON-GDMs across all conditions (effect of group, p = 0.02; p = 0.02; p = 0.03, respectively). Fasting, 24-h mean, and daily peak glucose were not influenced by the SHORT or LONG exercise (effect of intervention, p > 0.05). Blood glucose values were higher among the GDM group for at least 1 h after eating, yet the exercise intervention had no effect on 1 or 2 h postprandial glucose values (effect of intervention, p > 0.05). Physical activity outcomes (wear time, total activity time, and time spent on each intensity) were not different between the groups nor interventions (effect of group, p > 0.05; effect of intervention, p > 0.05,). There were no differences between the groups or interventions for the PACES score (effect of group, p > 0.05; effect of intervention, p > 0.05). To conclude, there were no differences between the groups or exercise protocols on blood glucose control. More research is warranted to elucidate higher exercise volumes in this outcome for individuals with GDM.

Keywords: pregnancy; gestational diabetes; walking; postprandial; glucose (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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