Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Resistance Training as a Countermeasure in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Current Literature and Future Directions

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses a significant health concern for both mother and offspring. Exercise has emerged as a cornerstone of glycemic management in GDM. However, most research regarding this topic examines aerobic training (AT), despite substantial evidence for the effectiveness of resistance training (RT) in improving dysregulated glucose in other groups of people with diabetes, such as in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review research that examined the impact of RT on markers of glucose management in GDM, and to discuss future research directions to determine the benefits of RT in GDM. Based on the current evidence, RT is effective in reducing insulin requirement, especially in overweight women, reducing fasting glucose concentrations, and improving short-term postprandial glycemic control. However, the number of studies and findings limit conclusions about the impact of RT on risk of GDM, fasting insulin concentrations, insulin resistance, β-cell function, and intra-exercise glucose management. Overall, current evidence is accumulating to suggest that RT is a promising non-pharmacological tool to regulate circulating glucose concentrations in women with GDM, and a potential alternative or supplement to AT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Chicago, Illinois, USA. 14–16 March 1997. Diabetes Care 1998;21 Suppl 2:B1–167.

  2. DeSisto CL, Kim SY, Sharma AJ. Prevalence estimates of gestational diabetes mellitus in the United States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2007–2010. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014;11:E104. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.130415.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2015. Diabetes Care. 2015;38:S1-2. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc15-S001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Practice Bulletin No. 137: Gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122:406–16. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000433006.09219.f1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gaudier FL, Hauth JC, Poist M, Corbett D, Cliver SP. Recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 1992;80:755–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Moses RG. The recurrence rate of gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies. Diabetes Care. 1996;19:1348–50. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.19.12.1348.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. O’Sullivan JB. Diabetes mellitus after GDM. Diabetes. 1991;40(Suppl 2):131–5. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.40.2.s131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Henry OA, Beischer NA. Long-term implications of gestational diabetes for the mother. Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 1991;5:461–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0950-3552(05)80107-5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Leddy MA, Power ML, Schulkin J. The impact of maternal obesity on maternal and fetal health. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2008;1:170–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Lynch CM, Sexton DJ, Hession M, Morrison JJ. Obesity and mode of delivery in primigravid and multigravid women. Am J Perinatol. 2008;25:163–7. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1061496.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Archer E, McDonald S. The maternal resources hypothesis and childhood obesity. Fetal and early postnatal programming and its influence on adult health. Oxford: CRC Press; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Borengasser SJ, Lau F, Kang P, Blackburn ML, Ronis MJJ, Badger TM, et al. Maternal obesity during gestation impairs fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial SIRT3 expression in rat offspring at weaning. PLoS ONE. 2011;6: e24068. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0024068.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Shankar K, Kang P, Harrell A, Zhong Y, Marecki JC, Ronis MJJ, et al. Maternal overweight programs insulin and adiponectin signaling in the offspring. Endocrinology. 2010;151:2577–89. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2010-0017.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Freeman DJ. Effects of maternal obesity on fetal growth and body composition: implications for programming and future health. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010;15:113–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2009.09.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Catalano PM, Presley L, Minium J, Hauguel-de MS. Fetuses of obese mothers develop insulin resistance in utero. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:1076–80. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc08-2077.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Whitaker RC. Predicting preschooler obesity at birth: the role of maternal obesity in early pregnancy. Pediatrics. 2004;114:e29-36. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.114.1.e29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schmatz M, Madan J, Marino T, Davis J. Maternal obesity: the interplay between inflammation, mother and fetus. J Perinatol. 2010;30:441–6. https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.182.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kautzky-Willer A, Prager R, Waldhausl W, Pacini G, Thomaseth K, Wagner OF, et al. Pronounced insulin resistance and inadequate beta-cell secretion characterize lean gestational diabetes during and after pregnancy. Diabetes Care. 1997;20:1717–23. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.20.11.1717.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Buchanan TA, Xiang AH. Gestational diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest. 2005;115:485–91. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI24531.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190: gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131:e49-64. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Savvaki D, Taousani E, Goulis DG, Tsirou E, Voziki E, Douda H, et al. Guidelines for exercise during normal pregnancy and gestational diabetes: a review of international recommendations. Hormones. 2018;17:521–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-018-0085-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Coustan DR. Pharmacological management of gestational diabetes: an overview. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:S206–8. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc07-s217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Leturque A, Burnol AF, Ferré P, Girard J. Pregnancy-induced insulin resistance in the rat: assessment by glucose clamp technique. Am J Physiol. 1984;246:E25-31. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.1984.246.1.E25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Romeres D, Schiavon M, Basu A, Cobelli C, Basu R, Dalla MC. Exercise effect on insulin-dependent and insulin-independent glucose utilization in healthy individuals and individuals with type 1 diabetes: a modeling study. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metabol. 2021;321:E122–9. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00084.2021.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period n.d. https://www.acog.org/en/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/04/physical-activity-and-exercise-during-pregnancy-and-the-postpartum-period. Accessed 22 June 2021.

  26. Pate R, Pratt M, Blair S, Macera C, Bouchard C, Buchner D, et al. A recommendation from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. JAMA. 1995;273:402–7. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.273.5.402.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Grøntved A, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Andersen LB, Hu FB. A prospective study of weight training and risk of type 2 diabetes in men. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172:1306–12. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ishii T, Yamakita T, Sato T, Tanaka S, Fujii S. Resistance training improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM subjects without altering maximal oxygen uptake. Diabetes Care. 1998;21:1353–5. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.21.8.1353.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cauza E, Hanusch-Enserer U, Strasser B, Ludvik B, Metz-Schimmerl S, Pacini G, et al. The relative benefits of endurance and strength training on the metabolic factors and muscle function of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:1527–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2005.01.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Bacchi E, Negri C, Targher G, Faccioli N, Lanza M, Zoppini G, et al. Both resistance training and aerobic training reduce hepatic fat content in type 2 diabetic subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (the RAED2 Randomized Trial). Hepatology. 2013;58:1287–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.26393.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bacchi E, Negri C, Zanolin ME, Milanese C, Faccioli N, Trombetta M, et al. Metabolic effects of aerobic training and resistance training in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized controlled trial (the RAED2 study). Diabetes Care. 2012;35:676–82. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc11-1655.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Kuk JL, Kilpatrick K, Davidson LE, Hudson R, Ross R. Whole-body skeletal muscle mass is not related to glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese men and women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008;33:769–74. https://doi.org/10.1139/H08-060.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Black LE, Swan PD, Alvar BA. Effects of intensity and volume on insulin sensitivity during acute bouts of resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24:1109–16. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cbab6d.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Qadir R, Sculthorpe NF, Todd T, Brown EC. Effectiveness of resistance training and associated program characteristics in patients at risk for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med Open. 2021;7:38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00321-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Acosta-Manzano P, Rodriguez-Ayllon M, Acosta FM, Niederseer D, Niebauer J. Beyond general resistance training. Hypertrophy versus muscular endurance training as therapeutic interventions in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2020;21:e13007. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13007.

  36. Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2019, American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2019;42:S165–72. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc19-S014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Practice Bulletin No. 180: gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2017;130:e17-37. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Mottola MF, Davenport MH, Ruchat S-M, Davies GA, Poitras VJ, Gray CE, et al. 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52:1339–46. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100056.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Niemann MJ, Tucker LA, Bailey BW, Davidson LE. Strength training and insulin resistance: the mediating role of body composition. J Diabetes Res. 2020;2020: e7694825. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7694825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Dunstan DW, Puddey IB, Beilin LJ, Burke V, Morton AR, Stanton KG. Effects of a short-term circuit weight training program on glycaemic control in NIDDM. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998;40:53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8227(98)00027-8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Harrison AL, Shields N, Taylor NF, Frawley HC. Exercise improves glycaemic control in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2016;62:188–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2016.08.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Wang C, Guelfi KJ, Yang H-X. Exercise and its role in gestational diabetes mellitus. Chron Dis Transl Med. 2016;2:208–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdtm.2016.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. AlSheikh MH. Effect of exercise on glycaemic control and pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a review. IJPP 2020;64:102–8. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJPP_110_2020.

  44. Cremona A, O’Gorman C, Cotter A, Saunders J, Donnelly A. Effect of exercise modality on markers of insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control in pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Obes Sci Pract. 2018;4:455–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.283.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Hopkins SA, Artal R. The role of exercise in reducing the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus. Womens Health (Lond). 2013;9:569–81. https://doi.org/10.2217/WHE.13.52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Huang X, Huang J, Wu J, Li M, Yang Z, Liu L, et al. Different exercises for pregnant women with gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2020;60:464–71. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.19.10131-4.

  47. Yaping X, Huifen Z, Chunhong L, Fengfeng H, Huibin H, Meijing Z. A meta-analysis of the effects of resistance training on blood sugar and pregnancy outcomes. Midwifery. 2020;91: 102839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102839.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Barakat R, Pelaez M, Lopez C, Lucia A, Ruiz JR. Exercise during pregnancy and gestational diabetes-related adverse effects: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47:630–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091788.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Stafne SN, Salvesen KÅ, Romundstad PR, Eggebø TM, Carlsen SM, Mørkved S. Regular exercise during pregnancy to prevent gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;119:29–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182393f86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Garnæs KK, Mørkved S, Salvesen Ø, Moholdt T. Exercise training and weight gain in obese pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial (ETIP Trial). PLoS Med. 2016;13: e1002079. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002079.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. de Barros MC, Lopes MAB, Francisco RPV, Sapienza AD, Zugaib M. Resistance exercise and glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010;203(556):e1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2010.07.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Brankston GN, Mitchell BF, Ryan EA, Okun NB. Resistance exercise decreases the need for insulin in overweight women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;190:188–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(03)00951-7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Huifen Z, Yaping X, Meijing Z, Huibin H, Chunhong L, Fengfeng H, et al. Effects of moderate-intensity resistance exercise on blood glucose and pregnancy outcome in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial. J Diabetes Compl. 2022;36: 108186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2022.108186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Santos J, Sb R, Ar G, Hj A, Ja D. Skeletal muscle pathways of contraction-enhanced glucose uptake. Int J Sports Med. 2008;29:785–94. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1038404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Refaye GEE, Aziz GFA. Comparative study of circuit resistance training and aerobic training on glycemic control of gestational diabetes mellitus. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2017;22:89–95. https://doi.org/10.4103/bfpt.bfpt_46_16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Kazemi N, Ali HS. Comparison the effects of aqua aerobic and resistance training on blood sugar and insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. J Phys Act Hormones. 2017;1:1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Kasraeian M, Talebi S, Kazemi N, Bazrafshan K, Asadi N, Idress Ahmad Mohammad R, et al. Insulin resistance and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function in females with gestational diabetes mellitus: a comparison of aerobic and resistance trainings. J Adv Med Sci Appl Technol. 2017;3:131–8. https://doi.org/10.32598/jamsat.3.3.131.

  58. Metzger BE, Buchanan TA, Coustan DR, de Leiva A, Dunger DB, Hadden DR, et al. Summary and recommendations of the Fifth International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 2007;30 Suppl 2:S251–260. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc07-s225.

  59. Sklempe Kokic I, Ivanisevic M, Biolo G, Simunic B, Kokic T, Pisot R. Combination of a structured aerobic and resistance exercise improves glycaemic control in pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. A randomised controlled trial. Women Birth. 2018;31:e232–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2017.10.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Sklempe Kokic I, Ivanisevic M, Kokic T, Simunic B, Pisot R. Acute responses to structured aerobic and resistance exercise in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2018;28:1793–800. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13076.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Ismail AD, Alkhayl FFA, Wilson J, Johnston L, Gill JMR, Gray SR. The effect of short-duration resistance training on insulin sensitivity and muscle adaptations in overweight men. Exp Physiol. 2019;104:540–5. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP087435.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Wang Y, Lee D-C, Brellenthin AG, Sui X, Church TS, Lavie CJ, et al. Association of muscular strength and incidence of type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019;94:643–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.08.037.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Martins WR, de Oliveira RJ, Carvalho RS, de Oliveira DV, da Silva VZM, Silva MS. Elastic resistance training to increase muscle strength in elderly: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013;57:8–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2013.03.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Bergquist R, Iversen VM, Mork PJ, Fimland MS. Muscle activity in upper-body single-joint resistance exercises with elastic resistance bands vs. free weights. J Hum Kinet. 2018;61:5–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2017-0137.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Dunstan DW, Daly RM, Owen N, Jolley D, Vulikh E, Shaw J, et al. Home-based resistance training is not sufficient to maintain improved glycemic control following supervised training in older individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:3–9. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.28.1.3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. McGee LD, Cignetti CA, Sutton A, Harper L, Dubose C, Gould S. Exercise during pregnancy: obstetricians’ beliefs and recommendations compared to american congress of obstetricians and gynecologists’ 2015 guidelines. Cureus. 2018;10: e3204. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3204.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Ferrari RM, Siega-Riz AM, Evenson KR, Moos M-K, Carrier KS. A qualitative study of women’s perceptions of provider advice about diet and physical activity during pregnancy. Patient Educ Couns. 2013;91:372–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.01.011.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  68. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Exercise during pregnancy. https://www.acog.org/en/womens-health/faqs/exercise-during-pregnancy. Accessed 1 Jul 2021.

  69. Prewitt-White T, Connolly CP, Feito Y, Bladek A, Forsythe S, Hamel L, et al. Breaking barriers: women’s experiences of crossfit training during pregnancy. Women Sport Phys Act J;26:33–42. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2017-0024.

  70. Barker DJP. The origins of the developmental origins theory. J Intern Med. 2007;261:412–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01809.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. van Poppel MNM, Simmons D, Devlieger R, van Assche FA, Jans G, Galjaard S, et al. A reduction in sedentary behaviour in obese women during pregnancy reduces neonatal adiposity: the DALI randomised controlled trial. Diabetologia. 2019;62:915–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-019-4842-0.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Tanvig M, Vinter CA, Jørgensen JS, Wehberg S, Ovesen PG, Beck-Nielsen H, et al. Effects of lifestyle intervention in pregnancy and anthropometrics at birth on offspring metabolic profile at 2.8 years: results from the Lifestyle in Pregnancy and Offspring (LiPO) study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015;100:175–83. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-2675.

  73. Telschow A, Ferrari N, Deibert C, Flöck A, Merz WM, Gembruch U, et al. High maternal and low cord blood leptin are associated with BMI-SDS gain in the first year of life. Obes Facts. 2019;12:575–85. https://doi.org/10.1159/000502421.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  74. Seneviratne SN, Derraik JGB, Jiang Y, McCowan LME, Gusso S, Biggs JB, et al. Nulliparity is associated with subtle adverse metabolic outcomes in overweight/obese mothers and their offspring. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017;87:545–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.13426.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Tinius RA, Cahill AG, Strand EA, Cade WT. Altered maternal lipid metabolism is associated with higher inflammation in obese women during late pregnancy. Integr Obes Diabetes. 2015;2:168–75.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  76. Moran LJ, Fraser LM, Sundernathan T, Deussen AR, Louise J, Yelland LN, et al. The effect of an antenatal lifestyle intervention in overweight and obese women on circulating cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers: secondary analyses from the LIMIT randomised trial. BMC Med. 2017;15:32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-017-0790-z.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  77. Son JS, Liu X, Tian Q, Zhao L, Chen Y, Hu Y, et al. Exercise prevents the adverse effects of maternal obesity on placental vascularization and fetal growth. J Physiol. 2019;597:3333–47. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP277698.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Stanford KI, Lee M-Y, Getchell KM, So K, Hirshman MF, Goodyear LJ. Exercise before and during pregnancy prevents the deleterious effects of maternal high-fat feeding on metabolic health of male offspring. Diabetes. 2015;64:427–33. https://doi.org/10.2337/db13-1848.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Stanford KI, Takahashi H, So K, Alves-Wagner AB, Prince NB, Lehnig AC, et al. Maternal exercise improves glucose tolerance in female offspring. Diabetes. 2017;66:2124–36. https://doi.org/10.2337/db17-0098.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Laker RC, Lillard TS, Okutsu M, Zhang M, Hoehn KL, Connelly JJ, et al. Exercise prevents maternal high-fat diet-induced hypermethylation of the Pgc-1α gene and age-dependent metabolic dysfunction in the offspring. Diabetes. 2014;63:1605–11. https://doi.org/10.2337/db13-1614.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  81. Raipuria M, Bahari H, Morris MJ. Effects of maternal diet and exercise during pregnancy on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and fat of weanling rats. PLoS ONE. 2015;10: e0120980. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120980.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  82. Vega CC, Reyes-Castro LA, Bautista CJ, Larrea F, Nathanielsz PW, Zambrano E. Exercise in obese female rats has beneficial effects on maternal and male and female offspring metabolism. Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39:712–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.150.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Ibáñez CA, Vázquez-Martínez M, León-Contreras JC, Reyes-Castro LA, Rodríguez-González GL, Bautista CJ, et al. Different statistical approaches to characterization of adipocyte size in offspring of obese rats: effects of maternal or offspring exercise intervention. Front Physiol. 2018;9:1571. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01571.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  84. Tarevnic R, Ornellas F, Mandarim-de-Lacerda CA, Aguila MB. Beneficial effects of maternal swimming during pregnancy on offspring metabolism when the father is obese. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2019;10(4):502–50. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174418001046.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Zheng J, Alves-Wagner AB, Stanford KI, Prince NB, So K, Mul JD, et al. Maternal and paternal exercise regulate offspring metabolic health and beta cell phenotype. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2020;8: e000890. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000890.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  86. Fernandez-Twinn DS, Gascoin G, Musial B, Carr S, Duque-Guimaraes D, Blackmore HL, et al. Exercise rescues obese mothers’ insulin sensitivity, placental hypoxia and male offspring insulin sensitivity. Sci Rep. 2017;7:44650. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44650.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  87. Bae-Gartz I, Janoschek R, Kloppe C-S, Vohlen C, Roels F, Oberthür A, et al. Running exercise in obese pregnancies prevents IL-6 trans-signaling in male offspring. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48:829–38. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000835.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Martins Terra M, Schaeffer Fontoura T, Oliveira Nogueira A, Ferraz Lopes J, de Freitas Mathias PC, Andreazzi AE, et al. Multigenerational effects of chronic maternal exposure to a high sugar/fat diet and physical training. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2020;11:159–67. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174419000503.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Bhagavata Srinivasan SP, Raipuria M, Bahari H, Kaakoush NO, Morris MJ. Impacts of diet and exercise on maternal gut microbiota are transferred to offspring. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:716. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00716.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Gordon CJ, Phillips PM, Johnstone AFM, Schmid J, Schladweiler MC, Ledbetter A, et al. Effects of maternal high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle on susceptibility of adult offspring to ozone exposure in rats. Inhal Toxicol. 2017;29:239–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/08958378.2017.1342719.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Beeson JH, Blackmore HL, Carr SK, Dearden L, Duque-Guimarães DE, Kusinski LC, et al. Maternal exercise intervention in obese pregnancy improves the cardiovascular health of the adult male offspring. Mol Metabol. 2018;16:35–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2018.06.009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Cunningham RP, Moore MP, Meers GM, Ruegsegger GN, Booth FW, Rector RS. Maternal physical activity and sex impact markers of hepatic mitochondrial health. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018;50:2040–8. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001675.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Brittany R. Allman & Elisabet Børsheim

  2. Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Brittany R. Allman & Elisabet Børsheim

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Brittany R. Allman & Elisabet Børsheim

  4. School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA

    Samantha McDonald

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Carolina University (ECU), Greenville, NC, USA

    Linda May

  6. Department of Kinesiology, ECU, Greenville, NC, USA

    Linda May

  7. Department of Foundational Sciences and Research, ECU, Greenville, NC, USA

    Linda May

  8. Departments of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Elisabet Børsheim

Authors
  1. Brittany R. Allman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Samantha McDonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linda May
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elisabet Børsheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

BRA generated the idea, and BRA and SM conducted the literature search, critically reviewed articles, and had primary responsibility for the final content. All authors wrote the paper and read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brittany R. Allman.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was supported by funding from The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and Arkansas Biosciences Institute Postgraduate Grant (to BRA), United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service Project 6026-51000-012-06S (to BRA and EB), NIH/NIGMS 1P20GM109096-01A1 (to EB), and NIH/NCATS UL1 TR003107 and KL2 TR003108 (to EB). The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and Arkansas Biosciences Institute Postgraduate Grant sponsored the open access fee.

Conflicts of interest/competing interests

Brittany R. Allman has created a podcast about exercise and health-related outcomes (‘BENT by Knowledge’) and is also the Senior Innovation Scientist for Breakout Lifestyle Fitness, Little Rock, a gym emphasizing RT and health-related outcomes. Samantha McDonald, Linda May, and Elisabet Børsheim report no conflicts of interest or competing interests.

Availability of data and material

Not applicable.

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent

Not applicable.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Allman, B.R., McDonald, S., May, L. et al. Resistance Training as a Countermeasure in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Current Literature and Future Directions. Sports Med 52, 2871–2888 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01724-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01724-w

Search

Navigation