Although the researchers can’t identify what’s driving the rise through this study alone, several known risk factors for gestational diabetes have increased in parallel, Lam says. These include physical inactivity and limited access to nutritious foods—both of which affect how the body regulates blood sugar.
But there’s good news: research suggests that making small, manageable tweaks in movement and nutrition can substantially lower the risk. Here’s what doctors recommend.
Sale Extended – Save up to $20!
PLUS, for a limited time, get bonus gifts and issues with all Nat Geo subscriptions.
Why small amounts of movement matter
One of the strongest protective factors is regular movement. Historically, exercise during pregnancy was generally viewed as safe for most people—but it was often framed as optional and rarely emphasized as a tool for preventing gestational diabetes. Clinical guidance tended to focus more on dietary changes and glucose monitoring after a diagnosis, rather than on physical activity as a preventive strategy before or early in pregnancy.
But now, “there’s growing evidence to suggest that regular exercise, even before conception, and in that early stage of conception, is really beneficial for reducing the risk of developing GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus),” says Kym Guelfi, an exercise physiologist at the University of Western Australia in Perth. “But also, if you are unfortunate enough to develop GDM, exercise has a really important role in helping to maintain glucose levels in a better range.”
(Exercise during pregnancy may cut a child’s asthma risk in half.)
