Effect of aerobic and resistance training on fasting blood sugar & insulin levels in women with gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is defined as Diagnosing impaired glucose tolerance, for the first time during pregnancy ,The purpose of study was to compare the effect of aerobic and resistance training on fasting blood sugar, insulin and insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes.
The study is Semi- experimental interventional. A total of 34 women with gestational diabetes voluntarily participated which were selected from the available sampling pool. The subjects were simple random assigned in 3 groups. 12 subject (age 28/92 ± 3/60 years) participated in an aerobic training group (3 days/week, 30-45 min/day, 50-70%maximum heart rate), 11subject (age 30/27 ± 4/14 years) participated in a resistance training group (3 days/week, 2-3 set of 15 repetition, 50-70%maximum heart rate and Rating of perceived exertion), and 11 subject(age 29/18 ± 4/23 years) were in control group who did not participate in any exercise program during the study period. Blood samples were collected in the pre-test and post-test to assess the level of blood sugar and insulin . statistical analysis of covariance was used to compare the groups. The data were analyzed by software 23SPSS significant level was considered p≤0 / 05 .
The results of this study indicated a significant difference in insulin plasma levels (p = 0/031), insulin resistance index (p = 0/008) and insulin sensitivity between groups. Paired samples T Test results showed that resistance training leads to significant decrease in fasting blood sugar (p= 0/012) and non-significant reduction in aerobic group (p = 0/31), in training groups was observed non-significant changes in insulin levels, insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity.
It seems likely resistance training compared with aerobic training are more effective in reducing fasting glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes.