Diabetic patients practicing Yoga Nidra while taking oral medication “have better control of their fluctuating blood glucose and symptoms associated with diabetes,” according researchers from Shyam Shah Medical College published in a 2009 issue of the Indian Journal of Pharmacology and Physiology.
Yoga Nidra as a complementary therapy to oral medication may help you or someone you love control the symptoms of type-2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes. As reported by the World Health Organization, about 90 percent of the 347 million people in the world with diabetes suffer from type-2. Are you worried about getting diabetes? Effective ways to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes include regular exercise, a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.
How to Practice Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation technique developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati to induce complete mental, physical and emotional relaxation. It’s easy for almost anyone to practice and you don’t need any special equipment, clothing or skills. Simply lie down on your back, close your eyes and listen to an audio recording. Sessions are typically 30 to 45 minutes, during which your mind lingers in a state between wakefulness and sleep. Click here and listen to, or download, a Yoga Nidra session from YogaPoint.com — available in nine languages.
Yoga Nidra Study Participants and Protocol
The 41 people diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in this study were between the ages of 35 and 65 and maintained their individualized regimen of oral medication as prescribed by their doctor. Researchers divided the participants into two groups. One group practiced Yoga Nidra for 45 minutes every day for up to 90 days and the other group did not. This study employed the method of Yoga Nidra by Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati, an Australian medical doctor who studied under the direct guidance of Swami Satyananda Saraswati at the Bihar School of Yoga in India.
Effects of Yoga Nidra on Blood Sugar Levels
After 15 days, the participant’s blood sugar levels began to fall. At the end of 90 days, the researchers found a statistically significant decrease in blood sugar levels. Here is the breakdown so you know what to expect if you try Yoga Nidra to help control type-2 diabetes. You can see that it takes about 60 days to start seeing substantial results.
Fasting Blood Sugar Levels
- Before Yoga Nidra: 159.5 mg/dl (± 12.27)
- After 30 days: 154.7 mg/dl (± 18.14)
- After 60 days: 145.65 mg/dl (± 20.25)
- After 90 days: 137.75 mg/dl (± 23.15)
Blood Sugar Levels After Meals, Postprandial
- Before Yoga Nidra: 255.45 mg/dl (± 16.85)
- After 30 days: 250.55 mg/dl (± 22.31)
- After 60 days: 244.15 mg/dl (± 25.23)
- After 90 days: 237.5 mg/dl (±30.54)
Effects of Yoga Nidra on Other Symptoms
The participants also suffered from other symptoms: headache, heart palpitations, insomnia, sweating, anxiety and distress. After 90 days of practicing Yoga Nidra, the participants reported a statistically significant reduction in these symptoms.