Comparison of level of adherence between three 10 minutes post-meal walks to standard 30 minutes walk in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as Diabetes diagnosed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy that was not clearly Overt diabetes prior to gestation. GDM is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes and is the fastest growing Diabetes subtype in many parts of the world, reported to affect approximately 17% of the pregnancies. The preliminary management of GDM is Medical Nutrition Therapy with Exercise.

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends moderate intensity aerobic exercise namely walking at least 30 minutes per day for 5 days a week or 150 minutes per week to optimize blood sugar levels.

The goal of our study is to compare the level of adherence of women with GDM to  three 10 minutes short post-meal walks with standard 30 minutes continuous walk. The women will be advised to carry a smart phone preloaded with Google fit pedometer app for measuring step count, time and no of days a week walked. After two weeks glycaemic control and the following parameters will be assessed and recorded from the smartphone.

If the level of adherence to three short 10 minutes postprandial walks is better than the standard 30 minutes continuous walk then it can be advocated to GDM women in future to improve adherence. Further research can be aimed at whether this alternative prescription can impact physical activity over longer duration and improve the health outcomes of mother and baby.