Resistance exercise and glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a resistance exercise program with an elastic band on insulin requirement and glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).


METHODS
Sixty-four patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned into 2 groups: an exercise group (EG; n = 32) and a control group not submitted to the exercise program (CG; n = 32).


RESULTS
A significant reduction in the number of patients who required insulin was observed in the EG (7/32) compared with the CG group (18/32) (P = .005). The percentage of time spent within the proposed target glucose range (of at least 80% of weekly measurements below the limits preestablished for the disease) was significantly higher in EG compared with the CG group (EG = 0.63 ± 0.30; CG = 0.41 ± 0.31; P = .006).


CONCLUSIONS
The resistance exercise program was effective in reducing the number of patients with GDM who required insulin and in improving capillary glycemic control in this population.
de Barros
Marcelo C
MC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil. barrosmarcelo@uol.com.br
Lopes
Marco A B
MA
Francisco
Rossana P V
RP
Sapienza
Andreia D
AD
Zugaib
Marcelo
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents