Impacts of Exercise on Blood Glucose Levels in Gestational Diabetes
Date of Award
Fall 12-14-2024
Document Type
Non Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Exercise Science
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Denise Howard
Abstract
Gestational diabetes is one of the most common conditions that affects pregnant women, and the rates of diagnosis continue to rise worldwide. There has been research done that suggests there are both preventative and management benefits from aerobic or resistance exercise performed during pregnancy with or without gestational diabetes. Additional research on gestational diabetes must be done to better the understanding of exercise’s effects and benefits. The treatment group will perform a basic low to moderate-intensity exercise routine that can be easily carried out throughout pregnancy, and the control group will not have the routine assigned. There needs to be counseling and education about the exercise routine before beginning the experiment, so all patients have the same basic understanding of what to do. Patients should then be followed with questionnaires and phone call follow-ups throughout their pregnancy and the following two years postpartum. This would create new clinical guidelines for exercise that can be given to all able-bodied pregnant patients in the future for the prevention and management of gestational diabetes.