Yoga for Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Review for Clinicians

Abstract

Background: Empirical evidence indicates that yogic practices may be beneficial for the management of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this review is to analyze and synthesize recent experimental trials examining the effect of yoga asana-based interventions on blood glucose, HbA1C, and anthropometric measures among individuals with type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on clinically relevant findings that support the prescription of yogic asana practices to this population. Methods: Electronic searches of several databases were performed for experimental studies through December 2015. Studies were included if they were in English, peer reviewed, included asana-based yoga interventions among adults with type 2 diabetes, and reported relevant outcomes. Results: The search identified 19 experimental studies. A majority of the studies found improvements in blood glucose measures, hemoglobin A1c, and/or anthropometric measures. Style of yoga, duration of yogic interventions, and type of control group varied across studies. Conclusion: These studies suggest that regular yoga practice may lead to improvements in blood glucose measures, hemoglobin A1c, body weight, and body mass index. Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and better understand how yoga interventions can be implemented into clinical settings.