Thind H, et al. - This study appraised yoga as a tool to achieve glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). As a consequence of yoga intervention, glycemic outcomes and other risk factors for complications were improved in adults with T2DM relative to a control condition.

Methods

• Researchers performed comprehensive electronic databases searches to locate 2559 unique studies with relevant key terms.
• Studies were included if they evaluated a yoga intervention to promote T2DM management, used a comparison group, reported an objective measure of glycemic control at post-intervention, and had follow-up length or post-test of at least 8 weeks from baseline.  
• Independent raters coded participant, design and methodological characteristics and intervention content.
• Researchers also calculated summary effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

• The eligibility criteria was met by 23 studies with 2473 participants (mean age = 53 years; 43% women).
• Researchers observed that, compared with controls, yoga participants were successful in improving their HbA1c (d + = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.56; k = 16), FBG (d + = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.76; k = 20), and PPBG (d + = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23, 0.56; k = 14).
• Findings demonstrated that yoga was also associated with significant improvements in lipid profile, blood pressure, body mass index, waist/hip ratio and cortisol levels.
• It was also noted that studies satisfied an average of 41% of the methodological quality (MQ) criteria; MQ score was not associated with any outcome (Ps > 0.05).