Impact of an exercise program combined with dietary advice on avoiding insulin prescription in women with gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of an exercise intervention, in addition to standard care, in preventing or delaying insulin prescription in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

University hospital.

Population

Pregnant women at 25–35 weeks of gestation diagnosed with GDM.

Methods

Women in the intervention group participated in weekly, supervised, 30–45 min exercise sessions and were encouraged to accumulate more than 5000 steps per day, tracked by a pedometer, in addition to receiving usual care. The control group received standard care only.

Main outcome measure

Insulin prescription.

Results

From February 2008 through April 2013, 109 women were randomized into the intervention group (n = 57) or the usual care group (n = 52). Two women in the intervention group were excluded from the analysis (one was randomised in error and one was lost to follow-up). Six women never attended the exercise sessions, and two attended fewer than two sessions. However, two-third of women were considered as compliant to the intervention (attended more than 50% of sessions and/or averaged more than 5000 steps/day). The incidence of insulin prescription did not differ between the groups: 31 women (56%) in the intervention group versus 24 women (46%) in the control group (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.78). The median time from randomization to insulin prescription was also similar between groups (14 days in the intervention group and 13 days in the control group).

Conclusion

This study did not demonstrate that an exercise program reduces or delays insulin prescription in women with GDM. Low adherence to the intervention, a small sample size, and the short duration of the program may explain the lack of observed benefit.

Registered

At clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03174340, 02/06/2017