Pregnant women living in a neighborhood that promotes mobility are less likely to suffer from gestational diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes occurs towards the end of the second trimester.
- For each pregnant woman, a test for sugar in the urine is planned during the monthly pregnancy follow-up consultations.
- Almost 50% of pregnant women gain more weight than is recommended for a “healthy pregnancy”.
Gestational diabetes is an increase in blood sugar, or the amount of sugar in the blood, that occurs during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. This sugar tolerance disorder can occur due to the future mother’s lifestyle, such as overweight, obesity or advanced age (over 35). Another cause: a history of diabetes. The risk of gestational diabetes may also increase if the pregnant woman has given birth to a “big baby” before or if she has polycystic ovary syndrome.
This disorder is not without risks for the mother and the fetus. Gestational diabetes can cause the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, placental abruption or premature delivery. In children, it can promote fetal macrosomia, which is defined by a birth weight greater than 4 kg for a full-term baby or hypoglycemia at birth.
A link between the mobility of pregnant women and the risk of gestational diabetes?
Recently, researchers from Columbia University (USA) revealed that living in a neighborhood in which the built environment allows pedestrian mobility is associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes. To reach this conclusion, they carried out a study, the results of which were published in the journal Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.
As part of this work, the scientists analyzed the mobility of pregnant women and the risk of gestational diabetes for 109,863 births registered in New York in 2015. In detail, they examined data on residential density, the use of ground, street connectivity and access to public transport. The authors also took into account the age of the expectant mother, her education and the neighborhood poverty rate.
Gestational diabetes: “the importance of urban planning” to reduce the risks
Overall, 7.5% of participants suffered from this sugar tolerance disorder. The results revealed that the risk of gestational diabetes decreased when pregnant women resided in a walkable neighborhood. Similarly, when the team assessed the density of walkable journeys, expectant mothers living near streets, which were more connected, had a 23% lower risk of gestational diabetes.
According to scientists, better pedestrian mobility is linked to higher levels of walking and physical activity in pregnant women, which reduces the risk of sugar tolerance disorder and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. “The study underscores the importance of urban design. Creating opportunities for pregnant women to meet physical activity recommendations during pregnancy is expected to have long-term positive benefits for parents and child” , explained Andrew Rundle, co-author of the research, in a statement.
