Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Regular exercise is important for a healthy pregnancy and can lower the risk of developing GDM. For women with GDM, exercise is safe and can affect the pregnancy outc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Endocrines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/2/2/7 |
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| author | Konstantina Dipla Andreas Zafeiridis Gesthimani Mintziori Afroditi K. Boutou Dimitrios G. Goulis Anthony C. Hackney |
| author_facet | Konstantina Dipla Andreas Zafeiridis Gesthimani Mintziori Afroditi K. Boutou Dimitrios G. Goulis Anthony C. Hackney |
| author_sort | Konstantina Dipla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Regular exercise is important for a healthy pregnancy and can lower the risk of developing GDM. For women with GDM, exercise is safe and can affect the pregnancy outcomes beneficially. A single exercise bout increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake, minimizing hyperglycemia. Regular exercise training promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves oxidative capacity, enhances insulin sensitivity and vascular function, and reduces systemic inflammation. Exercise may also aid in lowering the insulin dose in insulin-treated pregnant women. Despite these benefits, women with GDM are usually inactive or have poor participation in exercise training. Attractive individualized exercise programs that will increase adherence and result in optimal maternal and offspring benefits are needed. However, as women with GDM have a unique physiology, more attention is required during exercise prescription. This review (i) summarizes the cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations due to pregnancy and outlines the mechanisms through which exercise can improve glycemic control and overall health in insulin resistance states, (ii) presents the pathophysiological alterations induced by GDM that affect exercise responses, and (iii) highlights cardinal points of an exercise program for women with GDM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:52:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03cf7c32d85e467c891776993eb65d29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-396X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:52:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endocrines |
| spelling | doaj.art-03cf7c32d85e467c891776993eb65d292023-11-21T12:05:55ZengMDPI AGEndocrines2673-396X2021-03-0122657810.3390/endocrines2020007Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes MellitusKonstantina Dipla0Andreas Zafeiridis1Gesthimani Mintziori2Afroditi K. Boutou3Dimitrios G. Goulis4Anthony C. Hackney5Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 621 22 Serres, GreeceLaboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 621 22 Serres, GreeceUnit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital, 56429 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, 57010 Exohi, Thessaloniki, GreeceUnit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital, 56429 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Exercise & Sport Science, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, NC 27599-8700, USAGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Regular exercise is important for a healthy pregnancy and can lower the risk of developing GDM. For women with GDM, exercise is safe and can affect the pregnancy outcomes beneficially. A single exercise bout increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake, minimizing hyperglycemia. Regular exercise training promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improves oxidative capacity, enhances insulin sensitivity and vascular function, and reduces systemic inflammation. Exercise may also aid in lowering the insulin dose in insulin-treated pregnant women. Despite these benefits, women with GDM are usually inactive or have poor participation in exercise training. Attractive individualized exercise programs that will increase adherence and result in optimal maternal and offspring benefits are needed. However, as women with GDM have a unique physiology, more attention is required during exercise prescription. This review (i) summarizes the cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations due to pregnancy and outlines the mechanisms through which exercise can improve glycemic control and overall health in insulin resistance states, (ii) presents the pathophysiological alterations induced by GDM that affect exercise responses, and (iii) highlights cardinal points of an exercise program for women with GDM.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/2/2/7exercise endocrinologypregnancyexercise physiologyexercisepregnancy endocrinologydiabetes |
| spellingShingle | Konstantina Dipla Andreas Zafeiridis Gesthimani Mintziori Afroditi K. Boutou Dimitrios G. Goulis Anthony C. Hackney Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Endocrines exercise endocrinology pregnancy exercise physiology exercise pregnancy endocrinology diabetes |
| title | Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full | Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_fullStr | Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_short | Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_sort | exercise as a therapeutic intervention in gestational diabetes mellitus |
| topic | exercise endocrinology pregnancy exercise physiology exercise pregnancy endocrinology diabetes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/2/2/7 |
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