Physical and glycemic responses of women with gestational diabetes to a moderately intense exercise program

Aerobic exercise machines are becoming more popular. Their use by women with gestational diabetes is reported, and their benefits in improving blood glucose management and in increasing maternal fitness without undue stress to the fetus are substantiated. Of equal benefit is the use of an exercise specialist to prescribe an individual exercise program, to increase the safety and effectiveness of the workout, to monitor maternal and fetal well-being, to record relevant data, and to provide feedback and information to the patient about the exercise session. The use of exercise specialists in the clinical setting should prove a useful adjunct to medical and dietary regimens for the woman with gestational diabetes.