Study: Tai Chi Can Help Lower Glucose Levels
Monday November 2, 2009
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In a study of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, those who participated in a supervised tai chi exercise program two days a week with three days of home practice for six months significantly lowered their fasting blood glucose levels, improved their management of the disease, and enhanced their overall quality of life.
“Tai chi really has similar effects as other aerobic exercises on diabetic control. The difference is tai chi is a low-impact exercise, which means that it’s less stressful on the bones, joints and muscles than more strenuous exercise,” Beverly Roberts, RN, PhD, the Annabel Davis Jenks endowed professor at the UF College of Nursing, said in the release.
Roberts, with Rhayun Song, RN, PhD, of Chungham National University in Korea, studied tai chi’s effect on older Korean residents. The research was featured in the June issue of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow, gentle circular movements. “Those who participated in the tai chi sessions actually had lower blood glucose at three and six months,” Roberts said. “Those individuals also had lower hemoglobin A1c, which means they had better diabetic control.”
In addition to improved blood glucose levels, participants also reported significantly improved mental health. This was encouraging, especially since people with less depression are typically more active and independent, Roberts said.
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