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New Delhi– Integrating yoga into national diabetes prevention policies could be a transformative step in combating the rising epidemic of diabetes in India, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology. Dr. Singh made this assertion while releasing a groundbreaking study by the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) on Friday.
The study, published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, highlights the significant role yoga can play in reducing the risk of Type-2 diabetes. The findings reveal that a 40-minute daily yoga routine—comprising specific asanas and pranayama—combined with standard lifestyle interventions, can lower the risk of developing diabetes by approximately 40%.
“These results surpass the outcomes of existing diabetes prevention strategies in the country,” said researchers involved in the study. Dr. Singh emphasized that this evidence-based approach could be pivotal in addressing India’s diabetes crisis, with over 101 million people currently diagnosed and another 136 million in the prediabetic stage.
A Groundbreaking Study
The three-year study was conducted across five centers in India, involving nearly 1,000 individuals with prediabetes. It compared the efficacy of yoga-based interventions with other prevention strategies, such as the Indian Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), which achieved a 28% risk reduction through lifestyle changes, and another trial combining lifestyle measures with metformin medication, which showed a 32% reduction.
“The efficacy of yoga in this study outperformed both, showcasing its superiority as a standalone preventive measure,” researchers noted.
Dr. Singh lauded the study’s findings as a potential “game changer” for India’s healthcare system, stating that it reaffirms the relevance of yoga—a practice rooted in India’s ancient traditions—in tackling modern health challenges. He also described the study as the first well-designed, long-term trial to scientifically validate yoga’s effectiveness in preventing diabetes.
A Call to Action
Dr. Singh, a renowned diabetologist, urged policymakers to integrate yoga into national diabetes prevention programs. “This study provides robust evidence to incorporate yoga into public health strategies to achieve widespread benefits,” he said.
Collaboration of Experts
The study was conducted by a team of eminent RSSDI members, including Prof. S.V. Madhu, Head of the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Prof. H.B. Chandalia, former Head at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and now Head of the Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre, Mumbai; and Dr. Arvind Gupta of the Manilek Research Centre, Jaipur, among others.
With diabetes posing a significant public health challenge in India, these findings offer a promising path forward. By integrating yoga into healthcare policies, India could leverage its rich cultural heritage to address one of its most pressing health issues.
