Tai Chi Research » Diabetes

Stort term tai chi for diabetes program fails to find significant decrease insulin resistance.

David Bendall — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:52:05 +0000

University of Sydney, Australia 2007

Effects of Tai Chi on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomised double-blind sham-exercise-controlled trial.

In this study 38 individuals were randomly assigned to 16-week of 2 a times per week tai chi for diabetes program or to a sham exercise program. The study found no statistically significant difference in insulin resistance or A1C as measured 72 hours after exercise. (The tai chi group did have a slight reduction in AIC compared to a slight increase in the sham exercise group.) The study found no adverse events. The only statistically significant differences between the tai chi group and the sham exercise group was that the tai chi group had improved balance and gait speed. The authors concluded that “this Tai Chi form, although developed specifically for diabetes, may not have been of sufficient intensity, frequency, or duration to effect positive changes in many aspects of physiology or health status relevant to older people with diabetes.”

Regular tai chi exercise improves T cell helper function in type 2 diabetics.

David Bendall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:27:48 +0000

Researchers in Taiwan carried out a case-control study of 30 pairs of type 2 diabetics to investigate the effects of a 12-week course in tai chi exercise on T cell helper reaction in type 2 diabetics. After 12-weeks of tai chi the tai chi group had decrease HbA1c levels and increased T cell helper reaction. This indicates that a combination of tai chi along with medication may be beneficial both to metabolism and immunity in type 2 diabetics.

Abstract

Tai Chi Arm Swing Exercises May Help People With Type 2 Diabetes

David Bendall — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:23:35 +0000

Researchers in Thailand found that a low-intensity traditional Chinese arm swing exercise helped lower blood glucose and markers associated with the development of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes. This study suggests that certain low-intensity exercises such as this one may help protect people with type 2 diabetes from eventual heart and blood vessel disease.

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Study finds decrease in blood glucose and increased insulin receptor binding capacity after 8-weeks of tai chi.

David Bendall — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:49:59 +0000

A study of 12 individuals with type 2 diabetes followed a tai chi program for 8 weeks. After the 8-week intervention and after a single bout of tai chi serum insulin decreased and high and low affinity insulin receptor numbers and their binding capacities increased.

Abstract

Tai chi improves plantar sensation and balance in diabetics with plantar sensation loss.

David Bendall — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:39:11 +0000

Researchers at the Wisconsin School of Engineering designed a study to see whether tai chi would be effective in reducing the risk of falls among individuals with diabetic neuropathy. In the study 18 elderly adults were tested for plantar sensory abilities and several types of balance metrics before and after 6 months of weekly tai chi classes. Participants were grouped according to their initial level of plantar sensory loss. After 6 months of tai chi all participants had significant improvement in plantar sensory ability. Balance improved in all groups with the greatest improvement seen in the groups with large sensory losses. Blood sugar, as measured by tests of Hemoglobin A1C also decreased after 6 months of tai chi. The researchers concluded that, “This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Tai Chi training as a method of improving plantar sensation and balance in elderly adults and elderly adults with diabetes with a large plantar sensation loss.”

View Abstract

Effects of tai chi and metabolic syndrome and glycemic control

David Bendall — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:30:17 +0000

In this pilot study at the Unversity of Queensland, Australia in 2008, 11 adults with elevated blood glucose attended tai chi and chi gung (qigong) classes 3 times per week for 12 weeks.

Study Indicators

Seven indicators of metabolic syndrome were tracked before and after the participants practiced Tai Chi:

Body mass index
Waist circumference
Blood pressure
Fasting blood glucose
Triglycerides
HDL-cholesterol, and
Indicators of glucose control – A1C, fasting insulin and insulin resistance

Results

There were significant improvements in body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure. There were also improvements in HbA1c, fasting insulin and insulin resistance.

View Abstract.

Tai chi exercise decreases A1C levels along with increases in regulatory T-Cell levels.

David Bendall — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:37:08 +0000

Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taiwan 2007

The authors of this study recruited 39 type 2 diabetic patients to participate in a 12-week tai chi program to investigate its effect on the metabolism of blood glucose and lymphocyte subpopulations. 32 patients completed the study. Researchers found that there was a significant decrease in A1C correlated to change of lymphocyte subpopulations. In particular levels of interleukin-12 and CD4CD25 regulatory T-lymphocytes increased.

Tai chi chuan exercise decreases A1C levels along with increase of regulatory T-Cells and Decrease of Cytotoxe.