Physical Activity, but Not Glycaemic Load, Is Associated with Lower Real-Time Glycaemic Control in Free-Living Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 15; no. 8; p. 1974
• Main Authors: Jardine, Isabelle R, Christie, Hannah E, Oetsch, Kate, Sabag, Angelo, Kennedy, Meredith, Meyer, Barbara J, Francois, Monique E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.04.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Blood; Blood Glucose; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Blood sugar; Carbohydrates; Care and treatment; Control; Correlation analysis; Diabetes in pregnancy; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes, Gestational; Diet; Dietary intake; Dietary supplements; Dietitians; Education; Ethics; Exercise; Female; Food; Gestational diabetes; Glucose; Glucose monitoring; Glycemic Control; Glycemic index; Health aspects; Humans; Inclinometers; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Physical activity; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; sedentary behaviour; Software; Values; Women's fitness; Womens health; Australia; United States > US; Australasia; exercise; sedentary behaviour; glucose; nutrition; pregnancy
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15081974

Maintaining blood glucose within the target range is the primary treatment goal for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Foods with low glycaemic loads are recommended in clinical practice; however, the relative importance of other key lifestyle variables is unexplored. This pilot study explored the associations of glycaemic load, carbohydrates and physical activity parameters on blood glucose concentrations in free-living women with GDM. Twenty-nine women (28-30 weeks gestation, 34 ± 4 years) with GDM were enrolled. Continuous glucose monitoring, physical activity (ActivPAL inclinometer) and dietary intake and dietary quality were measured concurrently for 3 days. Pearson correlation analyses determined the association between glucose levels and lifestyle variables. Despite all receiving the same nutrition education, only 55% of women were following a low glycaemic load diet with a large range of carbohydrate intakes (97-267 g/day). However, the glycaemic load did not correlate with 3-hr postprandial glucose ( = 0.021, = 0.56) or 24-h glucose iAUC ( = 0.021, = 0.58). A significant relationship between total stepping time and lower 24-h glucose iAUC ( = 0.308, = 0.02) and nocturnal glucose ( = 0.224, = 0.05) was found. In free-living women with diet-controlled GDM, more physical activity, i.e., steps accumulated across the day, may be a simple and effective strategy for improving maternal blood glucose concentrations.