ANALYTICAL REVIEW OF YOGA AND PRANAYAMA IN DIABETES MELLITUS
*Meenakshi Gusain Alok Kumar Srivastava and Kshiteeja Choudhary
ABSTRACT
Diabetes Mellitus is a disease related to the impaired glucose tolerance of the body, substantially insulin functioning is affected. Type 1 diabetes is difficult to treat with Yoga. Whereas, Type 2 diabetes which is caused by disarranged life style, stress related diseases can be effectively treated with Yoga. Yoga is basically restraint of activities of mind. It helps maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. Various Asanas in Yoga stimulates the organs which in turn improves the metabolic activities. This means that the chemical transformations within a cell are carried out more efficiently. The various trials have reported a general beneficial effect of yoga in diabetic patients. These effects were most prominent in FPG levels and lipid profiles. Certain long-term parameter, such as HbA1c was reported to improve slightly with the practice of yoga. It has been seen that Nerve conduction velocity is increased by Yoga. Thus improving blood supply to muscle and increasing muscular receptor activity. While a few Asanas help balance the functioning of the endocrine system. It massages and tones the abdominal organs like pancreas and liver, stimulate the nervous and circulatory system which in turn helps in controlling diabetes. Yoga pranayamas help us to control our breath and through this breath control to attain the mental poise or samatvam (Bhagvat Gita). Thus Yoga lessens the negative impact of stress and promotes multiple positive downstream effects on metabolic function, neuroendocrine status and various vascular complications.
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