For women with gestational diabetes, moderate intensity physical activity can help to manage blood glucose levels. ‘Moderate’ means a slight but noticeable increase in breathing and heart rate. If there are no specific obstetric or medical conditions, you should be able to safely exercise during pregnancy.
However, it is best to discuss this with your obstetrician or midwife prior to commencing any exercise regime in pregnancy.
In this Section
Benefits of Keeping Active
Tips on How to Walk More Each Day
Physical activity helps to reduce insulin resistance. Regular exercise, like walking, helps to increase fitness and prepares you for the birth of your baby. Physical activity also helps to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
Remember, before starting or continuing any form of physical activity, always check with your obstetrician or midwife.
It’s never too late to start moving, and there are many ways that you can keep active as a part of your everyday routine. Basically, anything that gets you moving is generally good for your diabetes and will also improve your overall feeling of wellbeing. For example walking is a great way to move.
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Below are some tips on how you can incorporate more walking into your life. It is important never to excerpt yourself.
- Walking to the local shops instead of driving.
- Start a ‘walking group’ with family or friends - perhaps meet at a regular time and day. This will help make sure you’re committed and help you stay in touch with your loved ones.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Stand and move while on the phone.
- Garden.
- Buy a ‘pedometer’ (or a ‘step counter’), a small device you can clip to yourself that counts your daily steps. This will help you measure just how much walking you’re doing.
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