Yoga based lifestyle for type 2 diabetes: need for a nationwide movement to control type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has become a global threat. In 2010, prevalence of T2DM worldwide among adults was 6.4% and it is estimated that by 2030 it will increase by 7.7%. By 2030, diabetes will be affecting approximately 439 million people. In this gap of 20 years (2010 to 2030), the increase will be 69% in developing countries and 20% in developed countries. In fact, the problem is worsening faster than expected, in 2000, the projected figure for 2030 was 366 million,1 and by 2010, the figure has already reached 439 millions. It is now established from epidemiological studies in Asia that approximately 15 percent or 1 in 7 adults has either increased fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance based on the WHO criteria,2,3 of which an estimated 5 to 12 per cent develop Type 2 diabetes annuall.3,4 In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar,5 and more than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in lowand middle-income countries.6 Moreover, WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death globally in 2030.7