| Diabetes in various forms affects up to 5percent of | | | | breathing. |
| the world population with 12 million diabetics in Western | | | | At the end of the 12 weeks blood sugar levels fell |
| Europe alone. Of the different ways in which diabetes | | | | significantly in all patients in the group and were slightly |
| presents, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus | | | | raised in a control group which had not joined in the |
| (NIDDM) is probably the most commonly encountered | | | | yoga sessions. Three yoga students managed to |
| genetic disease. NIDDM or Type II diabetes is | | | | reduce their medication, including one man who had not |
| multifactorial, depending also on environmental factors | | | | changed his drug regime for 20 years. |
| including obesity, sedentary lifestyles and nutritional | | | | It has been known for a long time that exercise is |
| imbalances. | | | | helpful for diabetics. Yoga therapy may help reduce |
| Yoga has shown some beneficial results in curing | | | | stress levels which could play a part in maturity onset |
| diabetes. The yoga exercises that are prescribed for | | | | diabetes. But one drawback is that some patients |
| curing diabetes is different from hatha yoga exercise | | | | would find it hard to keep up the regular sessions |
| because it involves positions tailored to treat certain | | | | needed to sustain the benefit. All the patients said they |
| conditions, as well as meditation, relaxation and | | | | would like to see these classes set up on a permanent |
| stretching exercises. | | | | basis but we don’t have the money. |
| One of the studies conducted to cure diabetes was | | | | It is not necessarily the exercise component of the |
| the one set up by the Yoga Biomedical Trust, founded | | | | yoga therapy package which is most important, |
| in 1982 by biochemist Dr Robin Monro, and an Indian | | | | because there is not enough physical exercise to |
| yoga research foundation which discovered that | | | | account for the changes, but stress reduction has a lot |
| practicing yoga for 30 minutes a day for one month | | | | to do with it. Stress hormones increase sugar levels in |
| helped reduce blood glucose levels in some diabetics. | | | | the blood. People also benefit from the stabilization of |
| The yoga patients took part in one or two 90-minute | | | | their moods which yoga brings, an increased feeling of |
| sessions a week and were asked to practice at | | | | well-being and a feeling of being more in control, which |
| home. The classes included the specific yoga | | | | may help with their diet control. |
| exercises of the spinal twist, the bow and abdominal | | | | |