Exercise: An Alternative Therapy for Gestational Diabetes

In brief

Exercise can play a significant brief role in managing blood glucose levels in women who develop gestational diabetes and in women with type II diabetes who become pregnant. Because contracting muscles help stimulate glucose transport, exercise can help women control gestational diabetes without insulin. After constraints typical of pregnancy are taken into account—such as soft-tissue laxity and fetal status—an exercise program can be tailored to the individual needs of patients. Although fit, active women may tolerate more strenuous exercise, relatively sedentary women may benefit most from non-weight-bearing exercises. Moderate workouts appear to be safe for most women who have gestational diabetes.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Raul Artal

Dr Artal is a professor and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse. He is a fellow of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Sports Medicine, and an editorial board member of the physician and sportsmedicine.