Conclusion
This study is the first of its kind to explore postmeal walking in
free-living women with GDM and compared to a time-matched standard-care
control across pregnancy (diagnosis to delivery). We found increases in
postprandial glucose at lunch and dinner, and physical activity patterns
for PMW, however no changes in glycaemic variability, adherence to
prescribed physical activity and birth outcomes were found. This
suggests that PMW may be an important alternative to completing
continuous physical activity in a population that fatigues easily and is
short on time, however further research into the implications on
postprandial glucose should be explored.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank all the women who
participated in the study. Thank you to B. Russell1who helped out with collecting monitors and the ISHLD staff who
facilitated recruitment at their Diabetes Service.
Data Availability: The data that support the findings of
this study are available from the corresponding author, MEF, upon
reasonable request.
Funding: University of Wollongong SMAH Partnership. MEF is
funded by an NHMRC Investigator Grant (APP1177234).
Competing Interest: The authors declare there are no
competing interests.
Contributors’ Statement: MEF designed the study. HEC
conducted the trial. HEC analysed the data. HEC and MEF wrote the
initial draft of the manuscript. All authors edited the manuscript and
approved the final draft