Lifestyle intervention prevents pregnant woman from gestational diabetes mellitus: a Chinese randomized controlled trial

Lifestyle intervention prevents pregnant women with GDM, limits their weight gain and improves their psychological comfort. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of lifestyle intervention prevents GDM during and after pregnancy. This study used a longitudinal interventional design. Between July 2011 and October 2013, 388 pregnant women with GDM were randomized to a control group and intervention group. We found that general characteristics and constituents of selected pregnant patients with GDM were similarity in our study. Meanwhile, dietary intakes of selected pregnant patients with GDM in control group were similar to those of intervention group. Gestational weight gain (GDM) of selected pregnant patients with GDM was significantly decreased in intervention group, compared with the control group. Lifestyle intervention significantly reduced the number of pregnant patients needed for insulin therapy, compared with the total number of control group. Furthermore, in medical record number of cesarean section, macrosomia (birth weight > 4000 g) and polyhydramnios (%), no significant changes between control group and intervention group were observed. No differences in birth size of the newborns outcomes were observed between the two groups. To our knowledge, lifestyle intervention reduces GDM and the number of pregnant patients needed for insulin therapy in obese pregnant women.