Dr. Jitendra Singh Urges Inclusion of Yoga in Diabetes Prevention Policies
New Delhi: Integrating yoga into national diabetes prevention strategies could significantly reduce the risk of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology. Speaking on Friday, Dr. Singh highlighted the transformative potential of yoga while releasing a landmark study conducted by the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI).
The study, published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews, found that a 40-minute daily yoga routine, comprising specific asanas and pranayama, combined with standard lifestyle interventions, reduced the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes by approximately 40%. Researchers noted that these results surpassed the effectiveness of existing diabetes prevention programs in India.
India currently has over 101 million people living with diabetes, alongside 136 million individuals in the prediabetic stage. Dr. Singh, also a Professor of Medicine and renowned diabetologist, emphasized that the study’s findings could serve as a pivotal strategy to combat the growing diabetes epidemic.
The three-year study involved nearly 1,000 prediabetic participants across five centers in India. The team evaluated the effectiveness of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), which achieved a 28% risk reduction through lifestyle changes, and a trial combining lifestyle interventions with stepwise metformin medication, which showed a 32% reduction.
“The efficacy of yoga outperformed both these approaches, establishing it as a superior standalone preventive measure,” researchers stated. The study’s success reaffirms the relevance of yoga, an ancient Indian practice, in addressing modern health challenges, Dr. Singh said.
Describing the findings as a potential "game changer" for India's healthcare system, Dr. Singh called for the integration of yoga into national diabetes prevention policies. “This study stands out as the first long-term, scientifically rigorous trial to validate yoga’s effectiveness in preventing diabetes,” he noted, emphasizing the widespread public health benefits such integration could bring.
The study was led by eminent RSSDI members, including Prof. S.V. Madhu from the University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Prof. H.B. Chandalia from the Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre, Mumbai, and Dr. Arvind Gupta from the Manilek Research Centre, Jaipur, among others.
Highlighting yoga's transformative potential, the study not only provides a strong scientific basis for its inclusion in diabetes prevention policies but also underscores the need for evidence-based public health strategies to tackle India's escalating diabetes crisis.
Nidhi Srivastava is a dietician. She holds a post-graduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from MRIIRS. With a profound passion for utilizing nutrition and lifestyle modifications to manage diseases, she is dedicated to advancing the field through rigorous research and fact-checking. Her expertise lies in evidence-based practice, ensuring the highest standards of dietary health and wellness.