Physical exercise may efficiently prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. DIASA-Ex is a high-intensity exercise intervention with a combination of strength training and endurance exercise to maximize health benefits. Women with a history of gestational diabetes, both from South Asian and Nordic countries, will participate in group trainings with professional instructors and receive extensive health examinations both before and after the intervention.

THE STUDY IS RECRUITING

There is a limited number of spots, but if you like to receive more information about the study please contact either doctor Archana Sharma at: arcshar@gmail.com or doctor Sindre Lee-Ødegård at: sindre.lee@medisin.uio.no or postdoctor Pushpanjali Shakya at: pussha@ous-hf.no, or by SMS/phone at +4795860506

Background

The development of type 2 diabetes is a gradual process involving several years of worsening glucose metabolism. Women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus, a form of prediabetes, are at especially high risk of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, women from South Asia are at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes than Nordic women, with the disease developing 10 years earlier and being harder to prevent and treat. Physical exercise is a cornerstone in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. Physical exercise can substantially improve glucose and lipid metabolism, which is essential for keeping blood glucose within the normal range. However, there is a lack of data on the effect of exercise on women with previous gestational diabetes, particularly for women of South Asian ancestry. In DIASA-Ex, we aim to study South Asian and Nordic women with a history of gestational diabetes by subjecting them to an 8-week high-intensity exercise intervention.

Aims of the present study

We want to quantify the effect of combined strength and endurance training on metabolic health among women with a history of gestational diabetes, and explore potential molecules that can explain the effects of exercise.

Methods

The women will be studied using oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with glucose and glycerol tracers, analyses of body composition, harvesting of muscle, fat and blood and  a range of physical tests before and after a supervised 8-week intervention. We will recruit 20 women in each group. All women will participate in group training with trained instructors four times weekly for 8 weeks.

Primary Investigator

Researcher Sindre Lee-Ødegård

Co-investigators/participants

• Professor Kåre I. Birkeland, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo

• Postdoctor Archana Sharma, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Akershus University Hospital

• Professor Truls Råstad, Norwegian Institute of Sport Sciences

• Postdoctor Pushpanjali Shakya, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital

• PhD-student Tine-Lise Kalleklev, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo

• PhD-student Anita Suntharalingam Kvist, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital

• Medical Student Researcher Jonas Krag Viken, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital

• Study nurses Åse Halsne and Jenny Shalini Lundgren

External collaborators: 

• Assistant professor Frode Norheim

• Professor emeritus Christian A. Drevon

• Postdoctor Thomas Olsen

• Postdoctor Marit Hjorth

• Medical student Jonas Krag Viken

• Professor Heidi Beate Heggesbø

• Professor Atle Bjørnestad

• Professor Tryggve Holck Storås