2.1 Yoga Therapy 1 : Diabetes Mellitus

(continued from previous issue)

Diabetes is a lifestyle-related condition due to an imbalance in handling a glucose load and is not a disease. It is one of the several lifestyle- related chronic conditions with an end result of complications that are related to early aging changes resulting in blockage of small and large arteries.

There are an estimated 100 million diabetics in the world of which around 70 million belongs to heavily populated developing countries. Today, the health professionals are bewildered by the rapidity with which diabetes with its associations such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, triglycerides are assuming epidemic proportions. This phenomenon is more prominent amongst Indians both in India and abroad (migrant), which is attributable to the rapidly changing trends of globalization and demands on coping skills leading to enormous stress.
This year (2002-03) is dedicated by WHO as the “Year of non-communicable diseases” to combat diabetes and heart diseases through lifestyle change with special emphasis on physical activity. The four major aspects of such a lifestyle change include regular physical activity, non-smoking, vegetarian diet and stress management.

Diabetes Mellitus is the full name of this disease. This is a condition in which glucose levels in the blood are much higher than normal and hence this condition is also commonly referred to as sugar disease. The defect in this condition is either your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or it produces sufficient insulin but the cells of your body are unable to use the insulin properly.

(to be continued in next issue)