Yoga discipline in the control of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

An experimental study was performed at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences "Victoria de Giron" of Havana City, Cuba, between April 1997 and June 1997 to examine the effect of Yoga Discipline in the control of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). Of 64 subjects there were 32 NIDDM on traditional treatment (Yoga Group). The prinicpal results revealed that the body mass index (BMI), at the beginning and the end, in the Traditional Group did not change significantly (BMI-beginning-28.0kg/m2; the end = 28.7 kg/m2 p=0.0831). However, the BMI in the Yoga Group decreased significantly (beginning = 29.7 kg/m2, the end = 27.0kg/m2; p=0.0001). At the end the frequency of normal glycosylated haemoglobin was higher in the Yoga Group (88.4 percent) than in the Traditional group (46.9 percent) showing a significant difference (p =0.0007). Also, for the Traditional Group, at the end the mean triglyceride 0.025 mmol/l (2.23mg/dl) and the mean total cholesterol concentrations 0.126 mmol/l (4.88mg/dl) were not significantly different from the beginning 0.025 mmol/l (2.22mg/dl) and 0.125 mmol (4.83mg/dl) respectively. In the Yoga Group at the end of the mean triglyceride 0.019 mmol/l (1.68 mg/dl) and the total cholesterol concentrations 0.110 mmol/l (4.24 mg/dl) were lower than the beginning 0.026 mmol/l (2.30 mg/dl) and 0.126 mmol/l (4.88 mg/dl), respectively, showing significant differences, p<0.05. Our results indicate that Yoga Discipline combined with the traditional treatment of NIDDM can benefit these patients.(AU)