International Journal of Yoga (Jan 2015)

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Yoga practitioners: A pilot cross-sectional study in two districts in India

  • Aarti Jagannathan,
  • V V Narayanan,
  • Isha Kulkarni,
  • Sonali P Jogdand,
  • Subramanya Pailoor,
  • R Nagarathna

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.158485
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 148 – 153

Abstract

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Introduction: Diabetes is one of the major health diseases in the world today. The efficacy of Yoga in the management of type 2 diabetes is well-established. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Yoga practitioners in two districts of India (one each in West and South of India). Methodology: In this cross-sectional field study, 155 Yoga practitioners from Pune and 192 from Ernakulam districts were assessed using the diabetes risk test and fasting blood sugar. The data collected were entered in a statistics software package and analyzed using the Pearson′s correlation analysis, t-test, univariate ANOVA, and linear regression to understand the predictors of risk for diabetes. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes among Yoga practitioners in Central Pune was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.01-0.04]). 18.9% of participants (95% CI: [0.16-0.19]) were diagnosed to be "at risk" for diabetes. In Ernakulam, the overall prevalence of diabetes among practitioners was 26% (95% CI: [0.05-0.06]) with 12% of practitioners (95% CI: [0.05-0.06]) diagnosed to be "at risk" for diabetes (prediabetic). Higher age and lesser duration of Yoga practice were significant predictors of diabetes. Conclusion: It is essential for every person above the age of 40 to undergo regular health check-ups and screening for diabetes and involve oneself in lifestyle modification programs such as Yoga for significantly long duration of time on a daily basis, to better manage diabetes.

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