title: A walking intervention improves capillary glucose control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a pilot study.
abstract: Exercise prescriptions that can be translated into clinical recommendations are clearly needed for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A pilot project was developed to document the effectiveness of a structured low-intensity walking protocol on capillary glucose control in GDM women. Ten GDM women followed conventional management of diet and insulin therapy, plus a low-intensity walking program (W) from diagnosis to delivery. Capillary glucose concentrations, insulin requirements, and pregnancy outcomes were compared with a matched cohort by body mass index (BMI), age, and insulin usage (20 GDM women who followed conventional management alone (C)). Baseline capillary glucose concentrations were not significantly different between the W and C groups. The W group had an average acute drop in capillary glucose concentration from pre- to post-exercise of 2.0 mmol x L(-1). In addition, the W group had significantly lower mean glucose concentrations in the fasted state and 1 h after meals than the C group in the week prior to delivery. These lower glucose concentrations were achieved while requiring fewer units of insulin per day (C, 0.50 +/- 0.37 U x kg(-1); W, 0.16 +/- 0.13 U x kg(-1); p < 0.05), injected less frequently. These results suggest an effective role in glucose regulation for this structured walking program.
authors.affiliation: R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation Exercise and Pregnancy Laboratory, Univrersity of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Margie H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Michelle F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mottola
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gratton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002196:Capillaries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin