Diabetes and Tai Chi, qigong medical research
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American Diabetes Association

Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Decreases A1C Levels Along With Increase of Regulatory T-Cells and Decrease of Cytotoxic T-Cell Population in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
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Can Qigong help with diabetes?
Qigong therapy for 12 weeks resulted in significant reductions in fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and demonstrated trends toward improvement in insulin resistance and A1C. These results suggest that Qigong may be an effective complementary therapy for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
-- AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION


Good Move — Consider Tai Chi for Better Diabetes Control
Looking at adults with type 2 diabetes, the study found that participants who were involved with a supervised tai chi exercise program two days per week with three days of home practice for six months lowered their fasting blood glucose levels, better managed their disease, and improved their overall quality of life ...
-- TodaysDietician.com

Medical News Today - UK

"Tai Chi Can Help Control Type 2 Diabetes"
LONDON: Tai Chi Chuan, the traditional Chinese martial arts exercises, could help curb symptoms of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The study suggested that Tai Chi might prompt a fall in blood glucose levels, or improve blood glucose metabolism, triggering a drop in the inflammatory response, reports the British Medical Journal. The findings of the study indicate that regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production. T cells are a vital constituent of the body's immune system, which generate powerful chemicals, including interleukins (ILs), which alter the immune response.
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American Diabetes Association

A Louisiana State University study found that people who had plantar peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes, after 24 weeks of Tai Chi classes enjoyed an increased sensitivity of the soles of the feet, greater balance, and faster walking speed. (Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. Page 118).
Diabetes. A few studies, including one ramdomized trial, have reported improvements in blood sugar control following Tai Chi training. However, most of the more rigorous RCTs have not reported any apparent benefit of Tai Chi on glucose metabolism. (Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi. Page 158)..
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Click to read more at Harvard Health Publications

 

Note from "Tai Chi & Meditation for Health" Instructor at the University of Kansas Health Network ... more "Tai Chi and Diabetes Research Below:

Harvard's Guide to Tai Chi emphasizes the importance of incorporating visualization/medtative experience with Tai Chi movement. Not all Tai Chi teachers incporporate this crucial element of Tai Chi. In our current classes, several of our students have reported on how their blood sugar levels have improved since beginning our classes. One student was on insulin when she started Tai Chi at the medical center, and is now off insulin entirely (note: do not make any medical changes in your therapy, but do discuss this research with your physician, as your Tai Chi may improve your blood sugar levels so your physician need to watch this, in case medication adjustments are needed).

Another student in our program was poised to go on insulin, three years ago, when he had maxed out on three prediabetic medications, including daily injections. After a few months of Tai Chi Meditation, his physician began reducing his diabetes medications, including ending his daily injections, as his blood sugar levels improved. Another student had been on 50 unites of insulin 4 times daily upon beginning Tai Chi Meditation. He has now dramatically reduced his insulin intake. Again, no one should change medication levels, unless instructed by your physicians, but you SHOULD let your physician know you are practicing Tai Chi Meditation techniques to be aware your A1C levels may improve.

 

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Decreases A1C Levels Along With Increase of Regulatory T-Cells and Decrease of Cytotoxic T-Cell Population in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Regular Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production

Abstract Background: Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); its benefit to immune function, however, remains to be determined ...
Results: Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels in the patients with type 2 DM were significantly higher than in age-matched controls before exercise. After TCC exercise, HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 DM significantly decreased (7.59 (0.32)% vs 7.16 (0.22)%; p=0.047) and blood levels of IL-12 increased significantly (5.96 (1.10) vs 12.96 (3.07); p=0.035) ...
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National Institutes of Health - PUBMed

A 12-week Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise programme decreases HbA1c levels along with an increase in Th1 reaction. A combination of TCC with medication may provide an even better improvement in both metabolism and immunity of patients with type 2 DM.
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Beijing Medical University

Diabetes: Tai Chi's stress management and increased circulation qualities make it ideal for diabetes. A Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology study found that blood sugar could be lowered successfully by doing Qigong exercises.  42.9 percent of patients in the study were able to take less medicine while having more staple foods. Nanjing University's study found that Tai Chi exercise helped to regulate metabolic disorders of type 2 diabetes mellitus with geriatric obesity by regulating the nervous-endocrine system in the body.

 

  

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YOGA
How can type 2 diabetes be controlled by yoga?
Yoga can also treat diabetes, or in the case of type 2 diabetes, prevent the disease from developing by: Rejuvenating pancreatic cells – Yoga postures that aid relaxation (asanas) stretch the pancreas, which can stimulate the production of insulin-producing beta cells.
-- DIABETES UK



Therapeutic Role of Yoga in Type 2 Diabetes ...
CONCLUSIONS
Yoga therapy is relevant for wellness, as well as for illness. The latest scientific evidence suggests the potential role of yoga-based lifestyle modifications in the management of type 2 diabetes and its associated risk factors. It is suggested that psychoneuro-endocrine and immune mechanisms have holistic effects in diabetes control. Parasympathetic activation and the associated anti-stress mechanisms improve patients' overall metabolic and psychological profiles, increase insulin sensitivity, and improve glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism. Yoga practices such as cleansing processes, asanas, pranayama, mudras, bandha, meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation are known to reduce blood glucose levels and to help in the management of comorbid disease conditions associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, resulting in significant positive clinical outcomes.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)



Can diabetes be cured by yoga? ...
Conclusion
There are medicines in the market which can control diabetes for sure but there are no medicines which can improve the function of the pancreas and thus, cure diabetes. The case with yoga is a little different as yoga can improve the functioning of pancreas and strengthen them and thus, help them to produce the an improved amount and regulate the hormone insulin. However, diabetes can be controlled to such an extent that you may not need medication but it cannot be cured, even through yoga.
-- TIMES OF INDIA



MINDFULNESS / MEDITATION
Can meditation reverse diabetes?
Effect of 6 Months of Meditation on Blood Sugar, Glycosylated Hemoglobin, and Insulin Levels in Patients of Coronary Artery Disease ...
[28] There was other studies conducted recently demonstrated beneficial effect of meditation in reducing blood glucose level and also improving insulin resistance. [29,30] Mention has been made about meditation found to give benefits for people with diabetes and general healthcare improvements.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)



Mind–Body Interactions and Mindfulness Meditation in Diabetes ...
Conclusion
Mindfulness meditation-based strategies are simple, easy to grasp and practice and do not incur additional cost. Moreover, many individuals may not be able to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity. This may be due to physical limitations such as osteoarthritis, morbid obesity, cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Meditation-based therapies may offer immediate positive benefits in such individuals. It may also help improve self-care behaviour, self-reliance and self-control. This would result in better quality of life. Therefore, the role of mindfulness meditation needs to be evaluated further in well-conducted studies.
-- NIH (National Institutes of Health)



Meditation & Diabetes Management
Research studies suggest that practicing meditation regularly helps people reduce their bodies' responses to stress by lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rate, reducing oxygen intake, and changing the brain waves to a more relaxed state. Moderating the stress response is also likely to lower blood glucose levels.
-- DIABETES SELF-MANAGMENT



Drs. Chaudhary, Molina, Schneider and Kaplan
answer questions on diabetes.
Q: How can the Transcendental Meditation technique influence Type 2 diabetes?
Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary: When you look at diabetes as a process of manifesting disease in several stages, in the initial stages the person develops insulin resistance. This means that your insulin is not working as efficiently as it should, and consequently your blood sugars start to rise.

As a secondary consequence, when the pancreas has been overworked for decades, it starts secreting less and less insulin. Now you need more insulin, but your pancreas can’t make any more; in fact, it slowly starts to die off because it’s been overworked for years.

Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006 shows that the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique can help during the initial stages, by lowering insulin resistance. So even though it’s true that some damage has been done to your pancreas over the years of developing diabetes, it doesn’t mean you can’t still be helped.

Dr. Schneider: Stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenalin aggravate insulin and glucose levels. Reducing these neurohormones through the Transcendental Meditation technique helps to balance glucose and insulin in the blood. This helps to normalize metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Related Scientific Research
Click here to read article and find links to research at TM.org






* NOTE: World Tai Chi & Qigong Day advises consulting your physician before beginning any new exercise, herbal, diet, or health program. The research listed here is meant to stimulate a discussion between you and your physician, health insurance carrier, etc., not as medical advise. Research and comments provided here are hoped to stimulate a more robust discussion of powerful natural mind/body health tools. Popular media, health media, and government must increase attention to stunning emerging research, including the UCLA study indicating Tai Chi participants enjoyed a 50% increase in immune system resistance to viral infection.

 

 

To learn more about tai chi & qigong medical research, see the below book,
"the complete idiot's guide to tai chi & qigong,", and also
"Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi," and
"The way of qigong: the art and science of chinese energy healing."