Exercise: an alternative therapy for gestational diabetes.

Abstract

Exercise can play a significant 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 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.