Tai Chi Can Help People With Diabetes Lower Glucose Levels

A regular tai chi exercise program can help people better control their diabetes and lower glucose levels, according to a University of Florida study featured in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

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, including mental health, vitality, and energy.

“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,” says Beverly Roberts, PhD, RN, the Annabel Davis Jenks endowed professor at the University of Florida College of Nursing.

“People assume that for exercise to be beneficial you have to be huffing and puffing, sweating and red-faced afterward,” Roberts says. “This may turn people off, particularly older adults. However, we have found that activities like tai chi can be just as beneficial in improving health.”

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow, gentle, circular movements. This low impact exercise uses shifts in body position and stepping in coordination with arm movements.

Sixty-two participants, mostly Korean women, took part in the study. One half of the group participated in at least 80% of two supervised sessions one hour per week, with three days of home practice for six months, and the other half served as a control group. Those who completed the sessions had significantly improved glucose control and reported higher levels of vitality and energy.

“Those who participated in the tai chi sessions actually had lower blood glucose at three and six months,” Roberts says. “Those individuals also had lower hemoglobin A1c, which means they had better diabetic control.”

Tai chi has also been used for people with arthritis and disabilities to increase balance, muscle strength and mobility and to reduce the risk of falls. It is worth investigating its effects in other conditions, especially in older people, Roberts says.

“Tai chi provides a great alternative for people who may want the benefits of exercise on diabetic control but may be physically unable to complete strenuous activities due to age, condition or injury,” Roberts says. “Future studies could examine if tai chi could similarly benefit conditions such as osteoporosis or heart disease.”

Source: University of Florida Health Science Center