Optimal strategies to prevent progression towards overt diabetes in women with recent gestational diabetes remain ill defined. We report a pilot study of a convenient, home based exercise program with telephone support, suited to the early post-partum period. Twenty eight women with recent gestational diabetes were enrolled at six weeks post-partum into a 12 week randomised controlled trial of usual care (n = 13) versus supported care (individualised exercise program with regular telephone support; n = 15). Baseline characteristics (mean +/- SD) were: age 33 +/- 4 years; weight 80 +/- 20 kg and body mass index (BMI) 30.0 +/- 9.7 kg/m2. The primary outcome, planned physical activity (median (range)), increased by 60 (0 to 540) mins/week in the SC group versus 0 (0 to 580) mins/week in the UC group (p = 0.234). Walking was the predominant physical activity. Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, % body fat, fasting glucose and insulin did not change significantly over time in either group. This intervention designed to increase physical activity in post-partum women with previous gestational diabetes proved feasible. However, no measurable improvement in metabolic or biometric parameters was observed over a three month period.

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