Reduced insulin resistance (diabetes)

This randomised controlled clinical trial among individuals with stable cardiac heart disease found that 16 weeks of practice of the Transcendental Meditation Programme led to a significant reduction in insulin resistance, in contrast to participation in a health education programme. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s normal amounts of insulin are not enough to create an insulin response in muscle, fat, and liver cells, ultimately leading to higher levels of blood glucose. Insulin resistance is one of the components of the ‘metabolic syndrome’, often associated with obesity, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia—a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; insulin resistance may also contribute to type 2 diabetes.Ref.Archives of Internal Medicine 166: 1218–1224, 2006