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