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Prenatal Exercise and Glucose Regulation
The Impact of Prenatal Exercise Type and Intensity on Glucose Control in Pregnant Women
Who can join
Ages 18 to 35 · Women · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Biological female * Singleton (one fetus) * 24-30-wks gestation * 18-35 yrs old * Sedentary * Conception without the use of assisted fertility treatments Exclusion Criteria: * Existing other metabolic disorders * Currently taking medication or supplements that affect glucose metabolism * Taking drugs, tobacco, or alcohol during pregnancy * Having a contraindication to exercise
About the study
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common disease during pregnancy and is characterized by an inability to regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels because of resistance to the hormone, insulin, which is responsible for getting glucose out of the blood. Aerobic training (AT, "cardio," for example: walking) is commonly used to regulate blood glucose levels in similar populations, like diabetics, but another form of exercise known as resistance training (RT, for example: weightlifting), has shown to be just as effective. Further, exercise intensity, regardless of the type, is directly proportional to blood glucose control. However, no study has compared AT and RT exercise modalities or intensity on blood glucose regulation in GDM, even though women with GDM share a similar insulin resistant phenotype as diabetics. Therefore, long-term objective of this study is to compare the effects of exercise type and intensity on glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity after four acute exercise sessions: low intensity RT (LOW-RT), low intensity AT (LOW-AT), moderate intensity RT (MOD-RT), moderate intensity AT (MOD-AT). Researchers will address the following aims:
Specific Aim 1: Determine the impact of exercise type and intensity on glucose regulation using continuous glucose monitoring during- and for 24 hours after four acute exercise sessions: LOW-RT, LOW-AT, MODRT, and MOD-AT. Researchers hypothesize that RT and moderate intensity will elicit better glucose control compared to AT and low intensity, respectively.
Specific Aim 2: Determine the impact of exercise type and intensity on insulin sensitivity by quantifying the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) before and after four acute exercise sessions: LOWRT, LOW-AT, MOD-RT, and MOD-AT. Researchers hypothesize that RT and moderate intensity will elicit greater insulin sensitivity compared to AT and low intensity, respectively.
What is being tested
- Acute exercises sessions with different exercise types and intensities (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Central Arkansas · Participants: 23 · Started: Sep 24, 2024
Contact the study team
- Brittany R Tucker, PhD · Phone: 484-802-6852
- Jamie Baum, PhD · Phone: 479-601-2499
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07802262
Locations in the U.S.
| Arkansas | Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.