Whether you had diabetes before you were pregnant or developed gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, exercise is an important component in helping manage your diabetes and optimizing your health. It’s important, though, to choose exercises that are safe for you and your baby and to monitor your blood sugar while exercising to avoid potentially dangerous lows.

How Much Exercise is Safe for Pregnant Women?

Ideally, pregnant women will get between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise daily. You don’t have to do all the exercise at one time. What this means is that you can work six 10-minute exercise breaks into your day or four 15-minute exercise breaks to enjoy the same impact as one 60-minute session. The key is to get started, even if you have limited time and energy.

What Types of Exercise are Best for Pregnant Women?

Aerobic exercises provide outstanding benefits for pregnancy and diabetes. They help improve circulation, build stamina, and decrease insulin resistance, allowing your body to process insulin more effectively. Great exercises to consider include:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Stationary cycling
• Low-impact aerobics

For added safe strength training, consider adding resistance bands to your routine and using them two to three times per week.

The good news is that once you begin exercising regularly during your pregnancy, you will discover that you suddenly have more energy and a better overall mood.