Effects of Leg Ergometer Versus Arm Ergometer on Blood Glucose, Exercise Tolerance, Weight, and Psychological Stress Among Gestational Diabetic Patients

Summary

The current study is a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 108 participants with diabetes during pregnancy. The trial will compare leg ergometer with arm ergometer. Interventions will be delivered three times per week for eight weeks. The primary outcomes are glucose, exercise tolerance, weight, and psychological stress. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after eight weeks. The trial will be carried out at Jinnah hospital, Services hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. The hypothesis is that the leg ergometer including aerobic exercise will result in greater reduction in glucose and exercise tolerance, weight and stress management than arm ergometer.

Conditions

• Diabetes During Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications
• Pregnancy in Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
• Diabetes Complication
• Gestational

Interventions

OTHER

Leg Ergometer

Participants in this group will perform supervised leg ergometer exercise in addition to standard care. The intervention will last for 8 weeks, with sessions conducted 3 times per week, each lasting 20-30 minutes. Exercise will be performed in a seated position using a cycle ergometer, primarily engaging lower-limb muscle groups. Intensity will be maintained at a moderate level (RPE 3-4) using the Modified Borg Scale and will be progressed gradually based on participant tolerance. Each session will include a brief warm-up and cool-down period. Standard care will include dietary counseling, general physical activity advice, and routine antenatal monitoring. Blood glucose may be checked before and after selected sessions to ensure safety and monitor response to exercise.

OTHER

Arm Ergometer

Participants in this group will perform supervised arm ergometer exercise in addition to standard care. The intervention will last for 8 weeks, with sessions conducted 3 times per week, each lasting 20-30 minutes. Exercise will be performed in a seated position using an arm cycle ergometer, primarily engaging upper-limb muscle groups. Intensity will be maintained at a moderate level (RPE 3-4) using the Modified Borg Scale and will be progressed gradually based on participant tolerance. Each session will include a brief warm-up and cool-down period. Standard care will include dietary counseling, general physical activity advice, and routine antenatal monitoring. Blood glucose may be checked before and after selected sessions to ensure safety and monitor response to exercise.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Shoaib Waqas, PhD. PT · Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-26

Primary Completion

2026-06-26

Completion

2026-10-15

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations