Yoga -- a smart move for child diabetics?

The prevalence of childhood diabetes is alarming. As our youth's waistline continues to expand, so does the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes. 

According to the CDC in 2009 there were roughly 208,000 Americans under age 20 estimated to have diabetes.

It’s time to stop stress eating and start stretching, according to one expert.

“It’s important to think about lifestyle changes and exercise, like yoga, to help prevent diabetes” says Dr. Deena Adimoolam, Assistant Professor in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Adimoolam

 "Most studies (though limited) have looked at the health benefits of yoga in adults, and have shown...

improvement in cholesterol, glucose levels, blood pressure and lean body mass - and we suspect the same improvement might occur in kids,” says Dr. Adimoolam. “If you start exercising regularly early enough and make this your routine, you may prevent development of obesity-related diseases later in life."

With yoga’s focus on meditation, “It’s an excellent way to relieve stress, and stress can lead to overeating and weight gain" says the doctor. "Yoga can help in developing the proper mindset to control your thoughts and actions, making one less likely to engage in risky behaviors and lead a healthy lifestyle overall."

On a positive note, for those diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, as long you make lifestyle changes (with diet, exercise, and weight loss) early on, there's a chance the disease can be reversed or progression can be slowed, says the expert.

“For type 2 diabetics who are overweight and newly diagnosed - losing 5 percent of their body weight through diet and exercise can mean decreasing the dose of a medication or the possibility of discontinuation of diabetic medications,” says Dr. Adimoolam. “The power of changing your lifestyle is more than what any medication can do – it’s the key to reversing diabetes and making a huge change in one's life.”