Therapeutic Yoga: A feasible complementary approach for glycemic control in individuals with impaired fasting glucose and elevated HbA1c

Background: Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) with elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a key precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although asymptomatic, IFG significantly raises the risk of developing T2DM and cardiovascular complications, emphasizing the need for early intervention. The Therapeutic Yoga Module (TYM) was designed to offer a feasible and effective remedy for improving glycemic control. Methods: The TYM was designed by combining different yoga practices including asanas, pranayama, relaxation, and dhyana. After validating the module, a feasibility study was carried out on 12 individuals. Subsequently, the preliminary impact was assessed on 29 individuals (intervention group = 14 and control group = 15) with IFG. The study evaluated practicality, participant acceptance, and changes in Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) and HbA1c levels over 12 weeks. Results: The TYM achieved a content validity index (CVI) of 0.75, with 15 out of 20 practices deemed effective by the expert panel. The Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) coefficient of 0.864 indicated strong reliability. Feasibility testing revealed high participant acceptance, with an average attendance rate of 84.9 %. The intervention group showed significant improvements in FBG (from 108.79 mg/dL to 91.00 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and HbA1c (from 6.00 % to 5.73 %, P < 0.001), compared to the control group, which had more modest improvements. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analysis confirmed that these improvements were primarily attributable to TYM. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that TYM may be a promising complementary intervention for individuals with IFG or at risk of T2DM. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI); Registration number: CTRI/2022/04/042307; Registration Date: April 29, 2022.