Exercise in Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes (GDM) impacts 1 in 10 pregnancies; hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia are common features of the condition. Women are recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Exercise both during and out of pregnancy has been shown to be an effective non-pharmacologic tool to reduce glucose and lipid profiles. The goals and purpose of this pilot study is to 1) determine the influence of exercise and the timing of exercise surrounding a meal on glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with GDM and 2) determine the feasibility of low-resistance and aerobic activity and measuring exercise metrics during pregnancy. The overarching objective of this study is to determine the effects of low-resistance and aerobic exercise on glucose and lipids following a meal in pregnant women with GDM. Women will perform either low-resistance or aerobic exercise. Blood will be taken before and 2 hours after a fixed meal. For safety, women will have supervised exercise and oxygen consumption will be measured throughout the activity.