title: Resistance exercise decreases the need for insulin in overweight women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the effects of circuit-type resistance training on the need for insulin in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned either to a group that was treated with diet alone or to a group that was treated with diet plus resistance exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of women whose condition required insulin therapy was the same, regardless of treatment. However, a subgroup analysis that examined only overweight women (prepregnant body mass index, >25 kg/m(2)) showed a lower incidence of insulin use in the diet-plus-exercise group (P<.05). Women in the diet-plus-exercise group were prescribed less insulin (P<.05) and showed a longer delay from diagnosis to the initiation of insulin therapy (P<.05), compared with the diet-alone group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resistance exercise training may help to avoid insulin therapy for overweight women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. gnb@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Gabrielle N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Brankston
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Edmond A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Nanette B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Okun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009765:Obesity; D011247:Pregnancy; D014891:Weight Lifting
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin