Tai-chi may benefit diabetics
POSTED February 12, 2010 - 17:22 | POSTED BY Kangna Agarwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on February 12, 2010 - 17:54
Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition wherein the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin adequately.
The classic symptoms of the conditions are increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, nausea, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, frequent infections of the skin, urinary tract or vagina.
Tai-chi based program
A research team led by researcher Liu Xin from the University of Queensland designed a tai-chi based program to come up with this finding.
Xin stated that the program had been especially designed to assist the people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes.
The program included vital body movements aiming at the pancreas, gland organ in the digestive system that is involved in digestion, and in the regulation of blood glucose levels.
Tai-chi found to benefit those with type 2 diabetes
Nearly 50 participants with the condition took part in the tai-chi based program and reported significant decline in their blood pressure, body weight, and blood sugar levels.
Shirley Fraser, one of the study participants, was quoted by TopNews.in as saying that she attended the preliminary tai-chi program for up to 90 minutes daily, thrice a week, for a period of three months.
Without any change in diet, she was able to shed 10 kilos in three months.
Not only this, a considerable improvement was observed in her blood pressure as well as blood glucose levels.
Dr. Liu added, "Like in designing or producing medication, we need to target the disease specifically. Different movements target different internal organs."
He now intends to replicate the findings by carrying out a larger trail of 200 people with depression, and obesity.
Health benefits of tai-chi found by past studies
Studies done in the past have shown that this traditional form of Chinese exercise may help in enhancing balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and reduced risk of falls in both healthy and elderly patients.
When practiced with yoga for 12-14 weeks, the martial art form has also been shown to cutback the cholesterol levels.
There has also been a compelling evidence that tai-chi may have a favorable effect on mood, and heart rate.
In one study, the ancient exercise has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 13 adolescents.
