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Aerobic Exercise in Women With Gestational Diabetes

Not Applicable
Conditions
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy
Interventions
Other: Aerobic exercise
Registration Number
NCT03067662
Lead Sponsor
Universita di Verona
Brief Summary

A few, small randomized controlled trials have investigated the effects of exercise on blood glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes (GDM), with inconsistent results.

To assess the effects of supervised exercise in women with GDM, 48 women with gestational diabetes, diagnosed between the 18th and 28th week of gestation, will be recruited, after exclusion of subjects with contraindications to exercise. These subjects will be randomly assigned to two groups: structured exercise intervention or standard care.

Women in the intervention group will perform low intensity aerobic exercise three times per week at 30% HRR (heart rate reserve), under continuous heart rate monitoring. Duration of each session will progress from 26 minutes the first week to 40 minutes (increasing 2 min/week). Women in the control group will receive standard diet and physical exercise recommendations.

In all women, clinical, metabolic and anthropometric features will be assessed before, during and at the end of the study. Newborn data will also be collected.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Singleton pregnancy,
  • Gestational diabetes diagnosis between 18th and 28th week of gestation,
  • Caucasian.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Hemodynamically significant heart disease,
  • Restricted lung disease,
  • Incompetent cervix/cerclage,
  • Persistent second or third trimester bleeding,
  • Placenta previa,
  • Threatened preterm labor,
  • Ruptured membranes,
  • Preeclampsia,
  • Hypertension,
  • Severe anemia,
  • Cardiac arrhythmias,
  • History of epilepsy,
  • Chronic bronchitis,
  • Orthopedic limitations,
  • Overt hyperthyroidism/ hypothyroidism,
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus,
  • Drugs that interfere with metabolic control (such as cortisone)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Supervised exercise interventionAerobic exerciseWomen in the intervention group will perform low intensity aerobic exercise three times per week at 30% HRR (Heart Rate Reserve), under continuous heart rate monitoring. Duration of each session will progress from 26 minutes the first week to 40 minutes (by increasing 2 min/week).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in fasting plasma glucose levels (mg/dL)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pulse wave velocity (PWV, m/s)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

A non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness (in the carotid-radial and carotid-femoral parts of the arterial tree) by the technique of applanation tonometry

Fetus femur length (cm)At 20, 30, 34-37 week of gestation
Week of delivery (wk)3 months after delivery
Change in body weight (kg)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Adiponectin levels (μg/mL)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Quality of life (questionnaire)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

Measured by SF-36 (36-item Short Form Health Survey-36) questionnaire

Glucose concentration during and after exerciseAt 32-34 week of gestation

A continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) will be applied at 32-34 week of gestation, and blood glucose will be recorded every 5 min over the following five days. Glucose concentrations during the 40-min exercise session, the subsequent night, and the 24-h period following exercise, as well as during the corresponding periods of a non-exercise day will be recorded, and glucose variability and time spent in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia will be calculated

Change in caloric intakeBefore intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

By 3 day-food recall questionnaire (kcal/die)

Depression state (questionnaire)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

Measured by Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale

Fetus head circumference (cm)At 20, 30, 34-37 week of gestation
Weight (kg) of child at birth3 months after delivery
Gender (M/F)3 months after delivery
Type of delivery (spontaneous, induced, caesarean section)3 months after delivery
Change in body mass index (kg/m^2, weight in kilograms, height in meters)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Change in heart rate (HR, beats per minute)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Dosage of insulin therapy, if requiredBefore intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

Insulin units and week at start

Change in energy expenditure through voluntary physical activityBefore intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation

Energy expenditure is estimated by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Change in blood pressure (mmHg)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Compliance (percentage)Throughout the intervention period, an average of 3-5 months according to the gestational week of inclusion in the study

Attendance at the scheduled sessions is recorded for each patient

Circulating c-reactive protein (CRP) levels (mg/dL)Before intervention and at 35-37 week of gestation
Fetus bi-parietal diameter (cm)At 20, 30, 34-37 week of gestation
Fetus abdominal circumference (cm)At 20, 30, 34-37 week of gestation
Length (cm) of child at birth3 months after delivery
Apgar index (score) at 1st and 5th minutesBirthday
Weight (kg) of child 3 months after delivery3 months after delivery
Type of feeding (breastfeeding or bottle feeding)3 months after delivery
Malformations and neonatal diseases (YES/NO)3 months after delivery
Length (cm) of child 3 months after delivery3 months after delivery

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona

🇮🇹

Verona, Italy

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona
🇮🇹Verona, Italy
Paolo Moghetti
Contact
paolo.moghetti@univr.it
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