Background & aim: Gestational diabetes is defined as diagnosing impaired glucose tolerance for the first time during pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of aerobic and resistance training on fasting blood sugar, insulin and insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes.

Methods: A total of 34 women with gestational diabetes voluntarily participated in the present Semi- experimental interventional study, which were selected from the available sampling pool. The participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups. 12 participants (age 28/92 ± 3/60 years) participated in an aerobic training group (3 days/week, 30-45 min/day, 50-70%maximum heart rate), 11 participants (age 30/27 ± 4/14 years) participated in a resistance training group (3 days/week, 2-3 set of 15 repetition, 50-70%maximum heart rate and Rating of perceived exertion), and 11 participants (age 29/18 ± 4/23 years)  were in control group who did not participate in any exercise program during the study period. Blood samples were collected in the pre-test and post-test to assess the level of blood sugar and insulin. Statistical analysis of covariance was used to compare the groups. The data were analyzed by the SPSS software (ver.23. The significant level was considered p≤0.05.

Results: The results of the present study showed a significant difference in insulin plasma levels  (p = 0.031), insulin resistance index (p = 0.008) and insulin sensitivity among groups. T-test results indicated a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar of resistance group (p=0.12) but no increase was observed in the aerobic group. At the levels of insulin, insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, no significant changes were observed in exercise group.

Conclusion: It was concluded that resistance training compared with aerobic training was more effective in reducing fasting glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes.

 fasting blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, pregnancy