Do you know about 37.3 million people in the US have diabetes? That number is even higher in India. 77 million people in India have diabetes, and experts believe that number will grow to about 134 million by 2045. But did you know diabetes can be reversed? Chances are that you don’t, and yet it’s true. Experts believe that careful planning, timely execution, and yoga could lead to a diabetes reversal, but it’s hardly as easy as it sounds. Today, we will talk about how yoga can reverse diabetes, but before we do that, let’s first try to understand what diabetes exactly is in the first place.
What is Diabetes, and What Causes it?
Diabetes is a condition that, if left untreated, will eventually lead to excess sugar in your bloodstream. Extra sugar in your blood may not seem like that big deal, but it is, in the long run. We all get sugar spikes in our bloodstream when we eat too many sweets or drink fizzy drinks, and that’s okay. In the short term, it’s okay, but in the long run, if there’s a continuous excess of sugar in your bloodstream, it will lead to severe damage to your internal organs, such as your heart, eyes, kidneys, ankles, nerves, and much more.
As you know by now, it affects millions of people worldwide. People often question why there’s no cure for diabetes. You must understand that a drug can be created for a disease, but diabetes is not your traditional disease, where you take some pills and destroy the viruses or bacteria from your body. That is not the case with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that develops when your pancreas either doesn’t make any insulin or doesn’t make enough, depending on the type of diabetes.
Insulin counters excess sugar in your blood, and the lack of insulin in your body means extra sugar is given a free pass. So, the problem is with insulin, but unfortunately, there’s no magic pill that will help produce insulin in your body. That’s not how it works. You can take Insulin, and that’s what most Type 1 people with diabetes are doing, but that is expensive, not to mention a hassle. So, why don’t we try to reverse it? Well, we can, sort of.
Why is Diabetes Reversal So Hard?
As it turns out, we can reverse diabetes, but only Type 2 diabetes. If you have Type 1 diabetes, this will not help you. Although, researchers are working on a treatment. The reason why diabetes reversal doesn’t work for Type 1 diabetes is that, in this case, your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. But that’s not the case with Type 2. In people with Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin, but it’s not enough, and that can be fixed.
Type 2 is highly affected by diet and nutrition changes. Type 2 patients have some amount of insulin, but either it’s not enough for your body, or your body becomes resistant to it. So, your body can’t process all the glucose into the cells, and excess sugar accumulates in the bloodstream. So, it would help if you found a way to make your body less resistant to your insulin, and that’s precisely what we will do.
Can Yoga For Diabetes Lead To Diabetes Reversal?
Yoga for diabetes regulates your metabolism and gets you in shape. It also regulates your hormones, which improves things even further. Cortisol is a particular type of stress hormone that increases the production of glucose levels, and regular yoga can help regulate that. Less Sugar = Less need for insulin. Start a few beginner yoga practices, and as time progresses, you could add more yoga practices that can be sustained for extended periods.
But yoga alone can’t fix it. You will need to get your weight in check as well. Being overweight can make your Type 2 diabetes even worse. You will also need to follow a healthy and balanced diet. Fasting is another thing you can try. Recent studies have found intermediate fasting to be very effective in the case of Type 2 diabetes.
Should You Try Yoga To Reverse Diabetes?
If you do yoga regularly with a proper diet, fast, and effectively manage your stress level, then yes. But age also plays a critical role. Yoga for diabetes and a good diet can work wonders for an early diagnosis. But, your natural insulin production levels will drop even more with age. That’s why the diabetes reversal plan will be less effective later. The key here is to start early.
