Diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are too high due to the body either not producing enough insulin or not properly using the insulin produced. Insulin helps glucose enter cells where it is used for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. Diabetes can be caused by stress, chronic stress, infections, pregnancy, heart attack, stroke or family history. Complications of high blood sugar include damage to eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves. Certain yoga poses like twists and stretches can help manage diabetes by massaging the pancreas to stimulate insulin production. Nine poses are described that may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce diabetes risk.

2. INTRODUCTION
 Diabetes mellitus is a condition in
which glucose level in the blood are
much higher than normal and hence
this condition is also commonly referred
to as sugar disease.
 The defect in this condition is that either
the pancreas does not produce
enough insulin or it produces sufficient
insulin, but the cells of the body are
unable to use the insulin properly.

3. What is Diabetes?
 Insulin is like a key which opens the
body cell doors to allow glucose to enter.
 In the absence of enough insulin, glucose
cannot enter the cells and remains in the
blood stream in high amounts
(hyperglycemia)
 High blood sugar due to defective or
deficient insulin action and the resulting
associated problem is called diabetes.
 Cells in the body needs glucose (sugar) for
making energy required for daily life.
 The food we eat turns into glucose after
digestion.

4. CAUSES TRIGGERS: contd...
STRESS
ACUTE
DURING STROKE
HEART ATTACK
ACCIDENTS
PREGNANCY
INFECTION

5. CAUSES TRIGGERS: contd...
CHRONIC
STRESSES
EXECUTIVE TENSION
UNFINISHED TARGETS
DEMANDING LIFE EVENTS
EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY
AGGRESSIONS
FRUSTRATIONS

6. COMPLICATIONS IN DIABETES
Eyes
Heart
Kidney
Neuropathy

7. How Yoga Helps Diabetes
The twisting and the stretching in many of the yoga postures
massages the pancreas and stimulates the production of
insulin. Here are 9 yoga postures which will help diabetics
and the people who are at high risk of diabetes (obese,
over-weight).
9 yoga postures
 Utthita Parsvakonasana
 Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
 Paschimottanasana
 Janu sirshasana
 Makarasana
 Dhanurasana
 Halasana
 Ardhamatsyendrasana
 Shashankasana

8. Utthita Parsvakonasana
Stand in Samasthiti/Tadasana (both feet together). Step your right
foot three to four feet down the mat, rotate the left foot slightly in.
Inhale lift your arms horizontally so they are parallel to the floor
and exhale placing your right hand on the outside of your right
foot. Straighten your left arm in one line with your body and look
towards your thumb. Stay here for about 5 breaths and repeat on
the other side (you can gradually increase the number of breaths
to stay in the posture with practice). For more detailed step by
step instructions and easier variations of this posture click the
link Utthita Parsvakonasana

9. Parivrtta Parsvakonasana
Stand in Samasthiti (both feet together). Step your foot about 3 to 4
feet apart and rotate your right foot ninety degrees, rotate your
left foot in by about 45 degrees. Twist your body and place your
left elbow on the outside of your right knee, join your hands like
namaste and then press your right elbow on the outside of your
right knee trying to twist more, also try to bring the namaste to
the center of your heart by twisting more.

10. Paschimottanasana
Sit in Dandasana, Hold the big toes and keeping your back
straight bend forward leading with your chest (bend from your
hips and not from your lower back). You can also hold your
shin bone or bend your knee but try to bend from your hips.
For a moredetailed step by step instructions and variations of
the posture click the link Paschimottanasana

11. Janu sirshasana
Sit in dandasana. Bend your right knee and place the right heel
as close to the perineum as possible. Hold your left foot and
bend forward from your hips trying to place your head on the
knee. You can also hold your shin bone or bend your knee but
try to bend from your hips. For a more detailed step by step
instructions and variations of the posture click the
link Janusirshasana

12. Makarasana
Lie down on your stomach,lift your shoulders up and place
the respective elbows directly under your shoulder. Place
your hands on your cheek. For a more detailedstep by step
instructions and variations of the posture click the
link Makarasana.

13. Dhanurasana
Lie down on your stomach. Bend both your knee and hold your
respective ankles. Lift your knee and chest up trying to balance on
your stomach (pull your upper body up with the help of your legs).
For a more detailed step by step instructions and variations of the
posture click the link Dhanurasana

14. Halasana
Lie down on your back. Lift both feet up to ninety degrees. Pressing
your hands to the ground lift your buttock up and try to place your
feet at the back of your head. For a more detailed step by step
instructions and variations of the posture click the link Halasana.

15. Ardhamatsyendrasana
Sit in Dandasana, bend your right knee and place the heel under
your left hip bone. Bend your left knee and place the left foot on
the right side of your right knee (Try to place the sole of your left
foot completely on the ground). Now place your left hand at the
back of your left hip twist and place your right elbow on the inside
of your right knee. Press the inside of the knee with your right
elbow and try to twist more and deeper into the pose.

16. Shashankasana
Sit in Vajrasana (both knee bend and the buttock touching the
heel). Bendforward placing your head and hands on the
ground. For a more detailed step by step instructions and
variations of the posture click the link Shashankasana.