Clinical observation of isometric resistance exercise using the theory of behavior change among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective  To observe clinical effect of isometric resistance exercise on gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) using the theory of behavior change, so as to provide evidence for decreasing blood glucose level.

Methods  A total of 94 patients with GDM who received perinatal care in Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital were recruited as study subjects from March to July, 2022. They were randomly divided into intervention and control group by random number table method, with 47 cases in each group. Control group was given routine medical nutrition and exercise intervention, while the intervention group was given isometric resistance exercise using the theory of behavior change plus routine care. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The differences in blood glucose levels fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), awareness of GDM (GDM knowledge questionnaire), medical compliance behavior, and self-care ability Exercise of Self-care Agency Scale (ESCA) before and after intervention between the two groups were compared, and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were followed up.

Results  After intervention, the levels of fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c in 2 groups were lower than those before intervention. And these indicators in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (5.11 ± 0.37) mmol/L vs. (5.32 ± 0.42) mmol/L; (6.83 ± 0.34) mmol/L vs. (7.04 ± 0.46) mmol/L; (5.43 ± 0.61)% vs. (5.72 ± 0.56)%, all P < 0.05. After intervention, awareness of GDM, medical compliance behavior and ESCA score in 2 groups were higher than those before intervention, and the indicators in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Isometric resistance exercise using the theory of behavior change can significantly control the blood glucose level among pregnant women with GDM, improve patients’ awareness of the disease and medical compliance behavior, which are of great importance for the improvement of pregnancy outcome.