Tai Chi for Diabetes (TCD) combines traditional tai chi principles with medical knowledge of diabetes and exercise. TCD was designed to improve glucose control and physical and mental quality of life. TCD includes 21 movements from Sun and Yang styles of tai chi. Nine advanced movements require weight shifting, large arm movements and wide stances. Movements are safe and effective and can be modified to meet the abilities of elderly adults. Warm up and cool down movements are also included.
Certified Instructors are educated about diabetes, recognition and treatment of hypoglycemia, safety and methods to modify movements to be consistent with participants’ abilities. The Tai Chi for Health Institute supports the TCD program. The Institute provides many digital and in-person resources for teaching, training and certifying instructors and supporting the people and organizations who provide the program and people who participate in TCD.
Target Audience: Persons with prediabetes, persons with or without diabetes that are interested in tai chi with health benefits.
Health Outcomes:
- Reduction in fasting blood glucose
- Reduction of HgA1C, a measure of average glucose over 3 months
- Benefits in physical and mental health
Delivered By: 1 Certified TCD instructor
Training: Completion of self-paced internet-based training and a one-day Master Trainer workshop. Self-paced internet training may take anywhere from 10-40 hours, depending on knowledge of tai chi.
Program Type: Both group and individual
Format: In-Person in Community, Remote (Virtual Programming/In home)
Length: Twice a week for 8 weeks or once a week for 16 weeks. To achieve the desired benefits persons must complete 70% of the sessions.
Professional Required: No
Accessibility adaptations available: Yes
Cultural adaptations available: No
Available in languages other than English: No
Topic(s):
- Diabetes
- Standardized tai chi movements
Contact: service@tchi.org
Additional resources:
- Learn more about Tai Chi for Diabetes.
