“No Slouching Please… Posture and Diabetes”

By Kim Mendel, RD CDN

Most of us remember our mothers or grandmothers saying to “sit up straight….no slouching”, mainly because we looked sloppy and it was rude. However there may have been more than good manners being practiced. Good posture has been referred to for years as a confidence booster and the mark of a strong or powerful person. Regardless of gender or age, all of us should think twice before hunching over our computers.

Just a change in posture while walking or sitting is better for our overall health.  Sitting hunched or crunched with our shoulders up by our ears creates tension and tight muscles which leads to headaches, backaches and overall stress. This constant stress leads to alterations in our hormone levels, especially cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone our bodies need to function on a daily basis, however long term elevation of cortisol can lead to many health problems, including bone loss, memory loss, rapid aging and alterations in our blood glucose. This alteration can lead to pre-diabetes which in turn can lead us down the path to full blown diabetes. Now while this may not happen overnight, years of poor posture while sitting, driving, standing and walking can all build up to unhealthy stress levels that can be another contributing factor in diabetes.

So simply being more aware of our posture can be beneficial to our health and we all can practice good techniques and be more aware of how we are positioning our bodies. This with no cost out of pocket, no fancy machines or gyms… just awareness of how we are sitting and walking into and out of a room. Good posture makes us more confident and in turn can greatly affect our health.

Some tips:  No hunching or crunching up our bodies. When we find ourselves at our desks at work or home keep your back straight preferably against a chair with arm rests. If we are more aware of sitting upright and not leaning over we can correct this hunching as it happens and not go for hours at a time sitting improperly. Stand straight with your head lined over your hips and ankles not hunched forward. Keep your hands relaxed and fingers open. Yoga or stretching exercises can help teach us to maintain better posture and lead to decrease in stress hormones.

Most of us do not realize that we are slouching over our computers and cell phones on a regular basis so becoming more aware will help us maintain a better posture and less tense muscles. We will not only feel better but we may actually be helping to prevent diseases primarily diabetes.

It’s worth a try… so sit up straight and reduce your stress today!

Kim Mendel is a Registered Dietician and Diabetes Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at km432@cornell.edu