Diabetes and Exercise
It is widely known that exercise helps combat the symptoms of diabetes. Along with nutrition modifications, it helps diabetics lead healthier lives thereby avoiding serious complications associated with the disease. Recommended forms of exercise vary according to a person’s interests and abilities. Exercise works to lower blood glucose or blood sugar levels by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin and using glucose as fuel. In addition, exercise can reduce stress level which has been linked to diabetes.
Yoga has shown some beneficial results in curing diabetes. The yoga exercises that are prescribed for curing diabetes is different from hatha yoga exercise because it involves positions tailored to treat certain conditions, as well as meditation, relaxation and stretching exercises.
Diabetes affects up to five percent of the world population. It is continually increasing in numbers daily. There are three commonly known types of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational diabetes. Of the three, the most widely publicized is the noninsulin-depended diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM, commonly known as Type II. There are many factors that contribute to the onset of diabetes including lifestyle and genetic factors. While genetic factors predispose an individual to develop the disease, healthy choices are the key in preventing the onset of diabetes. Increasing activity that helps maintain healthy weight and stress levels is a crucial part of any prevention or management plan.
The yoga patients took part in one or two 90-minute sessions a week and were asked to practice at home. The classes included the specific yoga exercises of the spinal twist, the bow and abdominal breathing.
At the end of the 12 weeks blood sugar levels fell significantly in all patients in the group and were slightly raised in a control group which had not joined in the yoga sessions. Three yoga students managed to reduce their medication, including one man who had not changed his drug regime for 20 years.
It is well known that exercise and nutrition play an important role in the management of blood sugar levels in diabetics. Recommended forms of exercise vary according to a person’s interests and abilities.
It is not necessarily the exercise component of the yoga therapy package which is most important, because there is not enough physical exercise to account for the changes, but stress reduction has a lot to do with it. Stress hormones increase sugar levels in the blood. People also benefit from the stabilization of their moods which yoga brings, an increased feeling of well-being and a feeling of being more in control, which may help with their diet control.