A Practical Use of 'Qi-Gong Walking' As the Physical Exercise for Diabetics

Fundamental treatment for diabetes mellitus, especially NIDDM, is diet and physical exercise. We found that physical exercise introduces some safety problems particularly in the treatment of elderly patients of NlDDM with complications. Therefore, we have developed a new physical exercise, named 'Qi-gong Walking', which is based on the 'Chinese Taoist medical Qi-gong Ba Gua Xun Dao Gong.”

In this report, plasma glucose levels and pulse rates in 10 in-patients with diabetes mellitus were studied before and after 'Qi-gong Walking' in comparison with a no exercise group and the conventional walking group.

Plasma glucose levels of the 'Qi-gong Walking' and conventional walking groups were significantly lower than those of the no-exercise group (<0.025).

There was no statistical difference between the 'Qigong Walking' and conventional walking group, thus both are similarly effective at reducing plasma glucose levels. However, while pulse rates after exercise were increased in both the 'Qigong Walking” and conventional walking groups. The increase in pulse rates of the conventional walking group was significantly greater than that of the 'Qigong Walking' group.

These results suggest that 'Qi-gong Walking' can be carried on more safely than conventional walking in patients who have complications of diabetes mellitus, and is as effective at lowering the plasma glucose level as conventional walking.