Tai Chi Helps in Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Natural Diabetes Treatment Improves Blood Glucose, Quality of Life
Aug 19, 2009
People with type 2 diabetes often seek out natural diabetes treatments, some with great improvement and others with less impressive effect. The latest studies in natural cures for diabetes suggest that type 2 diabetics can improve their mental and physical health with the practice of tai chi, an ancient meditation and martial art technique.
Studies on Tai Chi and Managing Type 2 Diabetes
The study, published in June 2009 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, exposed a group of type 2 diabetes sufferers to twice weekly practice of 19 tai chi movements. At the end of a six month period, 31 people had stuck with the tai chi exercise regimen, with many positive effects.
The study's results showed that the type 2 diabetics who did 80% or more of the twice weekly tai chi exercises had:
- Better glucose control at the end of the study period, measured by fasting glucose levels and HbA1c
- Higher quality of life and social functioning
- Improved vitality and mental health
- More adherence to necessary self-care activities for type 2 diabetics
Two older studies, published in 2008, showed similar results on a smaller scale, although these studies mostly monitored only blood glucose levels.
How Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Helps
Tai chi chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art, practiced for its mental discipline, for competition, and, usually, for health reasons. Tai chi is considered a "soft" or "internal" martial art because its focus is on using an opponent's momentum by redirecting force to throw him or her off balance, rather than meeting force with force (as is done in "hard" martial art techniques).
Tai chi has long been considered a form of moderate exercise, which benefits the immune system. Previous studies have demonstrated that tai chi improves flexibility, relieves stress, lessen arthritis pain, and supports the health of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Tai chi combines gentle, controlled movement with meditation and breathing exercises to improve the health of the body, mind and spirit. It is an elegant and time-honored martial art technique, and today many forms of tai chi are practiced all over the world.
Tai Chi in Natural Diabetes Treatment
Although tai chi shouldn't be thought of as a diabetes cure, it certainly has the potential to be of benefit to type 2 diabetes sufferers – without drugs or invasive procedures, as a completely natural treatment.
Part of the beauty of tai chi is that it supports the health of mind, body, and soul. As this study shows, the benefits of tai chi practice are more than physical changes in blood glucose levels – the study participants found that tai chi exercise improved their mental health, their adherence to self-care routines, and their energy levels. There is huge potential for tai chi as part of a complete self-care regimen for type 2 diabetes.
Reference
- JP, "Tai Chi and Diabetes," HealthyFellow.com, 15 June 2009.
- McKenney, Anna S., "Tai Chi Improve Diabetes Control," MedicalNewsToday.com, 1 April 2008.
- Song, Rhayun et al, "Adhering to a T'ai Chi Program to Improve Glucose Control and Quality of Life for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes," The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, June 2009.
- Wong, Cathy, "Tai Chi for Type 2 Diabetes," About.com, 6 August 2009.
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