Like Two Peas in a Pod

One of the great things about exercise is how diverse it is; certain exercises target specific health aspects. For instance, cardio activity – like running, bicycling or stair climbing – is great for heart health and calorie burning that help keep weight levels low. Weightlifting is great for strength and stamina, while also helping maintain weight by boosting metabolism levels so calories are burned throughout the day – even when one is seated for long periods of time. And for stress, nothing’s better than yoga, an exercise where the mind, body and spirit come together in harmony.

Yoga’s positive impact on stress levels is undeniable, and according to researchers, yoga’s positive impact on diabetes may be undeniable as well – a disease that thrives on high stress levels.

Of course, any exercise is a good one, especially for those with diabetes, as virtually any exercise will help keep blood sugar levels in check while maintaining weight levels (obesity has become increasingly linked with diabetes diagnoses). But yoga was made for diabetes sufferers if for no other reason than the impact stress levels have on diabetics. Because a rise in stress signals a rise in blood glucose – a red alert for any diabetic – practicing yoga is a natural way to keep cortisol levels low, as some study’s have discovered (cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal gland; it’s released in excess during stress-filled situations).

Many different studies have corroborated yoga’s positive impact on blood-glucose levels, blood pressure levels and weight levels. Two studies from India – one from the Central Research Institute in Delhi, the other from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi – are illustrative of this fact.

One from the Central Research Institute found that 70 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes responded favorably to yoga by helping keep blood glucose levels stable through various breathing and muscle contraction exercises. About 150 people with Type 2 diabetes participated.

The more compelling of the two studies was the one done by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Their study involved whether or not certain yoga postures – such as the lotus pose, the mountain pose and the half-spinal twist – could help the pancreas produce more insulin. And true to form – pardon the pun – 40 days of these activities elicited a greater production of insulin, a loss in weight and a healthier waist-to-hip ratio among most of the 20 diabetics participating.

Even without the studies, it’s plain to me that yoga and diabetes are like two peas in a pod: if a diabetes sufferer needs to reduce stress to lower blood glucose levels, why not go to the best for stress management: yoga. For a disease’s wrath to be so contingent on stress levels, one is hard pressed to find a better method.