Can Exercise Prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Regular exercise helps prevent type 2 diabetes, but whether similar benefits apply to physical activity and gestational diabetes (GD) is not definitively known. To assess whether exercise during pregnancy can lower risk for insulin resistance and GD, Norwegian investigators randomized 855 pregnant women to a 12-week structured exercise program (weekly supervised sessions with encouragement to follow a home exercise program twice weekly) or to standard prenatal care. Women in the control group were not discouraged from exercising independently. Adherence was defined as exercising at least 3 days per week at moderate to high intensity. All participants underwent oral glucose tolerance testing at study entry (18–22 weeks' gestation) and comple…