CONTEXT: India is well-endowed in using yoga therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is a safe, effective, and easy-to-learn alternative treatment that can be practiced by elderly and persons with disabilities. AIM: Effect of 1 year of yoga therapy on glycemic control among patients having T2DM: A randomized controlled trial (RCT). Settings and. Design: RCT conducted at and Urban Health Centre (UHC) for 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty diagnosed and registered for T2DM from UHC enrolled as participants who were divided into exercise and yoga interventional group by computer-generated, randomized number sequence method. The yogic practice was advised to 60 study participants and the reaming 60 participants were advised to do exercises for 1 year. The glycemic outcome was evaluated by Random Blood Sugar (RBS) and HbA1c which were examined at baseline, 6 months, and at the end of 1 year. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired and unpaired (independent) t-test. Generalized estimating equations models were performed on the glycemic control variables to assess the differences between the two intervention groups. RESULTS: The post hoc analysis of 120 T2DM patient's data inferred that yoga and exercise have shown statistically significant (p < 0.05) effect on reducing HbA1C. However, no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed when the yoga group was compared with the exercise group on glycemic control (reducing HbA1c). CONCLUSIONS: Yoga is as effective as exercise, hence people with morbidities or who are unable to go for exercise can practice yoga at home which will help them for proper control of HbA1c and RBS.

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