Hormonal responses to exercise in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnant patients.

The hormonal responses to low-level exercise in pregnancy have been studied in 13 insulin-requiring diabetic patients and 42 control subjects. We found no significant changes in plasma glucose, epinephrine, glucagon, or FFA with this level of exercise in the study group and control subjects; but plasma norepinephrine showed a significant increase with exercise. This type of exercise appears to be safe and could serve as a model for exercise prescription for attaining improved glucose tolerance in pregnant diabetic women.