More Choices, More Chances
Can yoga really help diabetics, too? While we know that yoga has gained popularity in recent years, what kind of health benefits does it provide? Recent studies have been conducted to determine if certain yoga poses actually help reduce blood sugar levels in persons with Type II diabetes. What they found was the link not only to lowered blood sugar levels, but the associated benefits of reducing stress for diabetics.
At the Yoga Biomedical Trust, founded by biochemist Dr. Robin Monro in conjunction with the Indian Yoga Research Foundation, studies were conducted to measure the effects of yoga practice on diabetic participants. What they found was that practicing yoga for just 30 minutes a day helps reduce blood sugar levels and alleviate stress. It was expected to find the blood sugar level reduction because exercise can greatly impact the conversion of sugar to energy and insulin sensitivity. However, what was discovered regarding stress, the diabetic and yoga,was just as beneficial.
One of the studies conducted to cure diabetes was the one set up by the Yoga Biomedical Trust, founded in 1982 by biochemist Dr Robin Monro, and an Indian yoga research foundation which discovered that practicing yoga for 30 minutes a day for one month helped reduce blood glucose levels in some diabetics.
It has been found that stress causes the release of toxic chemicals in the human body. Among those secreted are glucagon and cortisol. At the cellular level, they impact blood sugar in a negative way. They act in opposition of insulin, thereby increasing sugar levels in the blood. When a diabetic person is stressed out, a biochemical chain reaction causes higher levels of insulin resistant blood. That means the cell cannot convert the sugar into usable energy and the diabetics blood glucose level is high. Reducing the amount of stress as well as increasing the cell’s sensitivity to insulin go hand in hand when combating diabetes.
Diabetes affects up to five percent fo the world population. In Western Europe alone there are twelve million diabetics. Of course this includes the three commonly known types of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational Diabetes. Of the three, the most heard about is the noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM. It is often referred to as Type II. There are many factors that impact Type II including genetic and lifestyle influences. While we may carry the genetic code for diabetes, lifestyle changes can prevent the onset of Type II.
After twelve weeks, blood sugar levels in the yoga group participants, as recorded throughout the study, dropped significantly. The control group’s blood sugar levels remained the same or slightly increased in comparison to the yoga study group. The yoga participants were successful in managing their diabetes through the use of yoga. Three participants reduced medication dosage, including a male who had been taking the same dose for twenty years.
While yoga is not necessarily a rigorous physical exercise, its benefits are undeniable. The stress level reduction component is of utmost importance, as well as decreasing blood sugar levels. In addition, maintaining healthy respiratory, circulatory, and endocrinal systems are essential to everyone, especially those suffering from diabetes. Yoga has been found to do that and more. It may not be for everyone, but yoga is another alternative for living a health-conscious lifestyle while managing diabetes.
