Everyone experiences days when they dread going to the gym, but studies have found that working out pre-pregnancy cuts the risk of women developing gestational diabetes when they are pregnant.

 

In a study published by Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, researchers analysed data from 1,333 women between 1985 and 2011.

 

They hoped to establish a link between gestational diabetes and exercise through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

 

 

The participants underwent a fitness test during their first visit. Throughout the remaining visits, they were asked if they became pregnant or developed gestational diabetes.

 

The team found that the women who had a stronger fitness level reduced their risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy. There were 164 women who did develop gestational diabetes during the study, but they were not as active as their fellow participants.

 

This led researchers to discover that women who fail to exercise regularly are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.

 

 

Doctors can detect pregnancy diabetes during a routine screening, but in some cases, it is not accompanied by any symptoms.

 

The symptoms include:

  • Excessive eating
  • Fatigue
  • Needing to pee a lot
  • Feeling thirsty
  • Losing a lot of weight
  • Glucose in your urine     

Luckily, managing gestational diabetes is easier than it used to be. Doctors will advise you on what diet to follow and they may prescribe you certain medication to help with the condition.

 

They will need to monitor you closely, so attending all of your antenatal appointments is vital.

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