Diabetes can pave the way to many diseases like cardio vascular disease, eye complications, neuropathy, skin problems, dental problems, nephropathy, hypertension, gastro paresis, hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic nonketotic syndrome, ketoacidosis, and stroke, etc.

What is Diabetes?

Glucose is considered to be one of the major elements in providing our body with energy. When someone gets high glucose in blood, he/she is diagnosed as diabetic. Our food-intake leads to the glucose formation in blood. This glucose is channelized throughout our body by insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, and it contributes a lot in the proper body-functioning. But, when the pancreas does not prepare for enough insulin, glucose cannot get mixed up with cells, and hence, it gets released through urine.

Symptoms of Diabetes:

One can get detected as diabetic if he/she feels thirsty with an extremity, one gets affected by body itching, frequent urination, exhaustion, extreme hunger, and poor eyesight. In the field of frequent urination, the patient may suffer from UTI (urinary track disorder), thus leading to urine infection, healing of wounds gets slower, and one’s sexual power is decreased.

Types and Risk Factors of Diabetes:

There are three types of diabetes- Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 patients are said not to have insulin production in their body, while type 2 is responsible either for not producing enough insulin or lack of proper utilization of it. Pregnant women, especially above the age of twenty five, can develop gestational diabetes, thus leading to type-2 diabetes. Irregular menstrual sufferers are also at risk of developing type-2 diabetes. If you consume low levels of vitamin D, you are at risk for getting affected by type 1 diabetes.

The key fact is that the older we get, the more our chances increase of getting diabetes. Our immune system lacks of protection power against viruses and various diseases as we become older. So, seniors should take care of their physical and mental health to a great extent because stress and obesity are considered to be two of the major components when developing diabetes, thus leading to other physical ailments.

Interrelationship between Diabetes and Hypertension:

Those with diabetes also have a 75% chances of developing hypertension or high blood pressure. Those dealing with obesity, smoking, and alcohol addiction can double the chances. The renal filtering system can be damaged by an excessive quantity of sugar in the blood that can cause hypertension. The normal measurement for blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg to 140/80 mmHg, but when one crosses the upper limit of 140, this can be detected as hypertension, which reflects on the fact that our blood gets pumped rapidly through our vessels and heart. It can lead to dementia and heart failure.

Similarly, stress/anxiety is also considered to be one of the major platforms for weakening your body with diabetes. Glucagon hormone is responsible for the growing blood sugar level, and its secretion gets hastened by hypertension. Consequently, you can experience the results of high blood sugar.

How is yoga relevant to diabetes?

Have you noticed either of the above mentioned symptoms? Check your blood sugar level first and then try yoga under proper guidance. After a regular practice of at least two weeks, test your glucose level again, and you yourself can realize the difference.

Yoga, an ancient way of exercising and healing of both body and mind, plays a vital role in curing and preventing diabetes and other health problems. If you stick to the regular practice of yoga, as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can have a positive affect on your overall health and possibly your diabetes diagnosis.

Yoga is considered to be the stress-reliever without any side effects! It releases stress and tension from our mind and energizes it with proper motivation, thus keeping our entire system fresh and strong to cope with the hurdles of diseases.

Moreover, blood circulation gets properly maintained by yoga, as a consequence of which, our body gets enough oxygen. The more we have oxygen, the more we can revitalize ourselves.

Body and mind are co-related after all!

Early morning is the ideal time to practice Pranayama- a breathing exercise. It is an act of deep breathing, which cleanses the respiratory tract. Just to spend ten to thirty minutes a day for it. It cures and prevents a number of diseases, like hypertension, diabetes, renal problems, coronary artery disease, indigestion, constipation, anaemia, spondylitis, nasal problems, lung problems, and so on.

What you should be careful of is to practice it under proper training. The plus point is that there is no age bar for concentrating on yoga. So seniors can easily practice the various postures.

Meditation is also considered to be a very good remedy for those craving sweets, which is common in diabetics.

There are various postures to be followed in yoga for getting involved in the Pranayama, like anuloma-viloma pranayama, kapalabhati pranayama, bahya pranayama, bhramari pranayama, and udgit pranayama etc. If you are unable to follow the poses while practicing the Pranayama, you may just sit cross-legged on a mat, shut your eyes, and continue breathing in and out in a quiet mode.

The five asanas (poses) such as chakrasana (wheel pose), dhanurasana (bow pose), paschimottanasana, sarvangasana (posture for all the organs), and halasana are strictly recommended for struggling against diabetes, hypertension, indigestion, constipation, lung problems, loss of appetite, and disorder in the nervous system. Paschimottanasana is known as forward seated bend pose, while halasana is the opposite of it. These poses have also been proved to do a lot for the reproductive system and the blood circulation in human body. Moreover, our hands and legs get relaxed through these poses.

To maintain a healthy diet and sound sleep are also important while practicing yoga.

Please do avoid processed and junk food. Cut out sugary drinks, limit alcohol consumption, avoid smoking and drink plenty of water.

On the whole, give a space to yourself. If possible, be creative. Try to get involved in something that fills you with joy.

Think positive and be healthier. Cheers and keep smiling!