Laughter cuts blood sugar level: study

[LahoreEstate]

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Islamabad

A recent study has shown that diabetics may be better able to process the sugar they consume during meals if they have a laugh with their food.

The researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes had a smaller rise in post-meal blood glucose (sugar) when they watched a comedy show than when they listened to a humourless lecture, BBC radio reported.

Plenty of studies have shown that laughter can combat many common illnesses. For instance, research suggests that humour may lower blood pressure and release endorphins. Laughter is also thought to improve circulation, stimulate the nervous system, heighten the immune system and make the heart stronger. Poorly controlled blood sugar can increase the risk of diabetes complications such as heart disease, kidney failure and blindness.

The researchers said that people with diabetes have a lot to worry about diet, exercise and keeping their glucose and insulin levels in check. And stress is known to increase the risk of elevated blood glucose. If a positive emotion such as laughter reduced blood glucose, it would improve their mental health and quality of life.

The researchers from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, studied patients who had type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body fails to respond to insulin. They measured the blood glucose levels of 19 diabetics and five non-diabetics before and after they ate the same meal, on two separate days. On one day, participants listened to a 40-minute lecture, which the researchers describe as ‘monotonous’ and `without humorous content’. On the second day, participants were included in an audience of 1,000 people who watched a Japanese comedy show. At the end of the show, `most’ participants said that they laughed well.

The researchers found that post-meal blood glucose levels were higher after the boring lecture than after the comedy show, in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. The reasons why laughter might reduce blood glucose are not clear, but the researchers suggested that laughter could increase energy consumption by working the abdominal muscles.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=172390