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