Tai Chi research shows it prevents and manages Type 2 diabetes

Studies say that tai chi (TC) can help limit the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Separate experiments conducted in Australia and Taiwan showed significant improvements in health when compared with control groups.

Two small studies in Taiwan looked at diabetes and TC practice. The first study followed 30 people with Type 2 diabetes and matched them to 30 people with the same age and gender (but who did not have diabetes). All participants took a one-hour TC class three times a week for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12-week period, the people with diabetes showed a decrease in their HbA1c level -- HbA1c is used to measure how well the body can control blood sugar, an important sign of diabetes.

The other study, done in Australia, looked at 11 adults with elevated blood sugar (pre-diabetic). The researchers designed a special program that combined TC with another practice known as Qi Gong (a practice of creating and moving “chi” in the body through deep breathing and other exercises). Some of the 11 participants also had high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol (altogether making up metabolic syndrome). Like the first study, the participants underwent a 12-week program. Overall, blood pressure was improved and waist size in some of the participants even shrunk.

Although both these studies are very small, it is promising that such a simple practice can improve the overall health of the body. “These Chinese exercises may be easier to learn than gym-based exercises and do not require any complicated or expensive equipment” said the University of Queensland team.

For generations, the Chinese people have been doing tai chi for its longevity and other health benefits. If you have never seen TC in action, its low impact action looks like a combination of slow motion controlled movements, martial arts sequence and meditation in motion. If you have travelled to China and was lucky enough to go outside early in the morning, you would have noticed public parks full of older Chinese men and women practising tai chi.

The studies were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine where it was reported that heart-pounding exertion is not necessarily good and that strenuous physical activity depresses the immune system response while moderate exercise seems to have the opposite effect.

Combining TC with a healthy diet, other daily exercises and good medical care could help diabetics and pre-diabetics increase their health, manage their condition and prevent further symptoms.

More research are being undertaken to find out how TC works, how its slow motion movements can slow down the ageing process, how it reduces stress and how TC helps balance the body, increase energy levels and promote health.

Other Benefits of Tai Chi

Practitioners say that TC can also help with the aging process by improving balance, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and improving flexibility.

In addition, the benefits that long term TC practitioners report are that tai chi balances the body’s inner energy (chi), which directly promotes health and longevity. TC can be done alone or in a group, and there are social benefits with group classes.

If you would like to attend regular classes, please call us on our central telephone number 9796-1066 for class times and fees or email us through our contact-us form.

Sources:

1. Shu-Hui Yeh, Hau Chuang, Li-Wei Lin, Chiu-Yueh Hsiao, Pei-Wen Wang, Rue-Tsuan Liu, and Kuender D Yang. Regular TC Chuan exercise improves T cell helper function of type 2 DM patients with an increase in T-bet transcription factor and IL-12 production. Br. J. Sports Med., Apr 2008.

2. Herald Sun, Friday 4 April 2008

Back to TC Research