Why Yoga is good for women with Diabetes
Studies indicate that women between ages 35 to 49 years are more prone to developing diabetes.
Women with diabetes are also more prone to uncontrolled glucose levels. They have more to manage considering the risk of diabetes-related complications such as heart disease, blindness and kidney disease. However, lack of self-care and high stress levels is commonly seen in women which leads to poor dietary choices and lack of nutrition. All these factors lead to weight gain thus leading to the onset of diabetes.
It is highly recommended for Indian women to take charge of their health and incorporate stress relieving practices like deep breathing and mindfulness. Yoga can be used to great advantage here to build the strength and in losing weight.
It’s a well-known fact that regular integration of yoga into your daily routine can help reduce levels of stress, enhance mobility, lower blood pressure, and improve your overall wellbeing. This is why health benefits recommend the acclaimed practice to improve diabetes management and protect against other comorbidities and related medical conditions such as heart disease.
The practice of yoga helps to co-ordinate the breath with the mind and body in order to promote relaxation, help develop breath awareness, and provide a sense of inner peace. Yoga is the focused consolidation of body postures and movements (known as asanas), breathing techniques, and meditation, which are all designed to promote physical comfort and mental composure.
Yoga is considered to be a promising and cost-effective option in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Data from several studies suggests that yoga and other mind-body therapies can reduce stress-related hyperglycemia and have a positive effect on blood glucose.
Stress management is a major factor in diabetes treatment. When stressed, our cortisol and blood sugar level rise, leading to heightened chances of developing serious complications such as heart disease.
Controlled breathing techniques such as Anulom Vilom (balanced breathing), Bhastrika, Kapal Bhati, Agnisaar, Yogasanas, and other mindfulness-based programmes train participants to invoke a relaxation response. This response helps regulate cortisol and other stress hormones, which increases blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Both play a big role in the development of Type II diabetes and related complications.
Yoga can also be used to treat diabetes, or in the case of Type II 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.
- Exercising the muscles – Like other forms of exercise, yoga increases glucose uptake by muscular cells, which in turn helps to lower blood sugar levels, improve circulation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Promoting weight loss – Exercising through yoga can improve weight control, which aids in the prevention of conditions such as Type II diabetes.
- Improving your mental attitude – Regular yoga practice can help to focus the mind and create the right mental approach to dealing with diabetes and creating a plan to manage the condition.
Checkout the video for Yoga Asanas That Help Diabetes | Ruchi Khosla – Yoga Therapist
