Læknablaðið - dec 2019, Qupperneq 24

560 LÆKNAblaðið 2019/105
R A N N S Ó K N
Background: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
has been rapidly increasing in Iceland and 19% of women who gave
birth at Landspítali – University hospital in 2018 were diagnosed with
GDM. Women who develop GDM in pregnancy have an increased
risk of recurrence in future pregnancies, as well as an increased
risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life. Obesity and
a sedentary lifestyle are known risk factors for the development of
GDM. Prescribing physical activity has become an available treatment
option in all Icelandic primary healthcare centres. The aim of this
study was to examine the effect of prescribing postpartum exercise
for women with a history of GDM on their physical activity level,
quality of life, BMI and biochemical markers typical for metabolic
syndrome.
Materials and methods: Women who delivered from 1st January
2016 to 30th June 2017 and sought prenatal care at healthcare
centres within the Primary Health Care of the Capital Area were
offered participation in the study. Participants were randomly divided
into two groups, with one group being prescribed physical activity
for five months while the other group received standard treatment of
care. Blood tests (fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol and insulin
levels), BMI, general activity level and the patient‘s quality of life were
measured at both three and eight months postpartum.
Results: 84 women participated, 45 were assigned to the treatment
group and 39 to the control group. General activity levels
increased significantly in the treatment group, but no significant
changes were seen in their blood test values. The treatment
suggested an improvement trend in the women‘s BMI and quality of
life, but the results were not significant. Women who breastfed had
significantly lower insulin levels than women not breastfeeding. There
was a stronger positive correlation between BMI and insulin levels
than between fasting blood sugar levels and insulin levels.
Conclusion: Prescribing physical activity after delivery for women
with a history of GDM significantly increased their general activity
level and breastfeeding seems to have a lowering effect on insulin
levels.
Prescribing physical activity after labour, for women
diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus
Viðauki 1.
1Primary Health Care of the Capital Area, Reykjavík, Iceland, 2University of Iceland, 3Development Centre for Primary Healthcare in Iceland.
Key words: Gestational diabetes mellitus, Exercise on prescription, Activity level, Quality of life.
Correspondence: Þórunn J. Júlíusdóttir thorunn.johanna.juliusdottir@heilsugaeslan.is
Þórunn Jóhanna Júlíusdóttir1,2
Hannes Hrafnkelsson1,2
Ragnheiður I. Bjarnadóttir1,2,3
Sesselja Guðmundsdóttir3
Ragnheiður Bachmann1,3
Karitas Ívarsdóttir1,3
Jón Steinar Jónsson1,2,3
DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2019.12.261ENGLISH SUMMARY