Eureka! Institutional Repository

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) occupies the first place among the metabolic disorders related to the period of pregnancy with a global prevalence that now reaches the 7% among pregnancies, with high rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, which makes it a serious and costly problem of public health. The treatment of gestational diabetes is based on frequent glycemic control, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity. Effective management of DM is catalytic to preserve the health of the dyad mother-newborn. The aim of the present study is to analyze the characteristics of women who developed diabetes during their pregnancy, with an emphasis on the physical activity they had before, during and after pregnancy. The research tool used is a questionnaire created for the purpose of this research. The sample of the survey consisted of 153 women who developed Diabetes Mellitus during pregnancy , following a non-random sampling. Regarding physical exercise, 55% of all women chose physical activity during pregnancy. The exercise took place mostly 1 to 3 times a week, it involved walking and balance exercises (Pilates, yoga) and lasted 15 to 30 minutes, while the majority did not continue to exercise after pregnancy. It is important to emphasize that, even though the GDM is associated with a sixfold increase in perinatal mortality and morbidity, the regulated GDM of most participants resulted, in the majority, in birth of healthy newborns. Furthermore, changes in dietary habits combined with exercise as the first-line treatment plan, along with low units of insulin when it was necessary, were enough to treat GDM. In conclusion, the cooperation between healthcare professionals and patients can minimize maternal and fetus/neonatal complications due to GDM.