Resistance Training as a Countermeasure in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Current Literature and Future Directions.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the impact of resistance training on glucose management markers in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and discuss future research directions.
Results Summary
Resistance training was effective in reducing insulin requirements (especially in overweight women), lowering fasting glucose concentrations, and improving short-term postprandial glycemic control. However, limited studies restrict conclusions on its impact on GDM risk, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, β-cell function, and intra-exercise glucose management.
Population
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
resistance training (RT) | decrease | insulin requirement | overweight women | - | is effective in reducing | #1 |
resistance training (RT) | decrease | fasting glucose concentrations | - | - | reducing | #2 |
resistance training (RT) | increase | short-term postprandial glycemic control | - | - | improving | #3 |
resistance training (RT) | no change | risk of GDM | - | - | limit conclusions about the impact | #4 |
resistance training (RT) | no change | fasting insulin concentrations | - | - | limit conclusions about the impact | #5 |
resistance training (RT) | no change | insulin resistance | - | - | limit conclusions about the impact | #6 |
resistance training (RT) | no change | β-cell function | - | - | limit conclusions about the impact | #7 |
resistance training (RT) | no change | intra-exercise glucose management | - | - | limit conclusions about the impact | #8 |
resistance training (RT) | decrease | circulating glucose concentrations | women with GDM | - | is a promising non-pharmacological tool to regulate | #9 |
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses a significant health concern for both mother and offspring. Exercise has emerged as a cornerstone of glycemic management in GDM. However, most research regarding this topic examines aerobic training (AT), despite substantial evidence for the effectiveness of resistance training (RT) in improving dysregulated glucose in other groups of people with diabetes, such as in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review research that examined the impact of RT on markers of glucose management in GDM, and to discuss future research directions to determine the benefits of RT in GDM. Based on the current evidence, RT is effective in reducing insulin requirement, especially in overweight women, reducing fasting glucose concentrations, and improving short-term postprandial glycemic control. However, the number of studies and findings limit conclusions about the impact of RT on risk of GDM, fasting insulin concentrations, insulin resistance, β-cell function, and intra-exercise glucose management. Overall, current evidence is accumulating to suggest that RT is a promising non-pharmacological tool to regulate circulating glucose concentrations in women with GDM, and a potential alternative or supplement to AT.