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October 6, 2009
One of the key activities diabetes patients can do for themselves is exercise. A new study from the University of Florida, suggests that incorporating tai chi into their exercise will allow patients to lower their glucose levels.
The study looked at adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants engaged in a supervised tai chi program twice a week plus three days of home practice for six months. The study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, found the patients significantly lowered their fasting blood glucose levels, improved disease management and enhanced mental health, vitality and energy.
The study involved 62 people, mostly Korean women-half of them participated while the other half served as a control group. Those who completed the tai chi exercises showed improved gluecose control and improved energy. "Those who participated in the tai chi sessions actually had lower blood glucose at three and six months," said Beverly Roberts, PhD, RN, of the UF College of Nursing. "Those individuals also had lower hemoglobin A1c, which means they had better diabetic control."
"People assume that for exercise to be beneficial you have to be huffing and puffing, sweating and red-faced afterward," Roberts said. "This may turn people off, particularly older adults. However, we have found that activities like tai chi can be just as beneficial in improving health."
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