Fact Check: Can a 5-minute Japanese exercise cure diabetes in 2 weeks?

Claim

The Instagram reel claims that "a 5-minute Japanese exercise cure diabetes in 2 weeks without even cutting off sweets from the diet. The Instagram user holistictaichihealing has posted a reel which states, "I permanently eliminated diabetes from my life. I managed to reduce my blood sugar from 15 millimole to 5 and I achieved this in just 2 weeks. If you don't believe me, then try practicing this Japanese gymnastics routine. Do it for 5 minutes each day and you'll see results. During the first week, your well-being improves. Your pancreas begins to recover. It even starts producing insulin. By the second week, your blood sugar levels normalize. I didn't even have to give up sweets. It's nothing short of miraculous."

The post has 23,565 likes and can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The user's claim is False. Exercise helps manage and prevent diabetes, but there is no scientific evidence that a 5-minute Japanese workout can cure diabetes in two weeks.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. When diabetes is not well managed, it can lead to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which over time can cause serious damage to the nerves, blood vessels, and other organs.

What are the Types of Diabetes?

Diabetes can occur in different forms, and the WHO classifies the condition into four main distinct types.

Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes, happens when pancreas does not make enough insulin. People with this type need to take insulin every day. In 2017, about 9 million people had Type 1 diabetes, mostly in high-income countries. The exact cause is not known, and there are no known ways to prevent it.

Type 2 diabetes happens when the body cannot use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. Over time, this can damage nerves and blood vessels. It is often preventable, with risk factors like being overweight, not exercising enough, and family history. Regular health check-ups and blood tests are important for early detection. Symptoms usually appear slowly and may not be noticed for years, sometimes only showing up after serious problems develop.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens during pregnancy. It causes higher-than-normal blood sugar levels but not high enough to be called diabetes. It can lead to problems during pregnancy and childbirth and increases the chances of both the mother and child developing type 2 diabetes later in life. It is usually found through routine tests during pregnancy.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) are conditions where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. They increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but it doesn't always happen.

Can Diabetes be Cured?

At present, there is no cure for diabetes; however, many individuals can achieve what is known as diabetes reversal. This refers to maintaining blood sugar levels within a healthy range without the need for medication. Such a state is typically reached and sustained through a consistent commitment to healthy lifestyle habits, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed because it happens when a mix of genetic, environmental, metabolic, and immune factors causes the immune system to attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Although survival rates and patient health have improved a lot over the past 25 years with better technology and treatments, a true cure or reversal of type 1 diabetes is still not possible.

What is Japanese Gymnastics?

There is no single exercise officially recognised as “Japanese gymnastics,” as the term encompasses various forms such as Tetsubo taiso (iron bar exercises), women’s and men’s rhythmic gymnastics, and the traditional Japanese routine known as radio calisthenics. However, the activity shown in the claim reel is unlikely to be accurately classified as Japanese gymnastics.

What is the role of exercise in diabetes?

Exercise plays a major role in both managing and preventing diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity and 2–3 sessions of resistance training per week. Regular physical activity helps improve blood sugar control, increases insulin sensitivity, reduces blood pressure, manages weight, and lowers the risk of heart disease. It can also prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, with studies showing up to a 42% risk reduction. Even small increases in activity levels can make a big difference. However, people with diabetes may face physical and emotional barriers to exercise, and results may vary based on the type and amount of activity. Still, staying active is one of the best tools for diabetes care.

Can a 5-minute Japanese exercise cure diabetes in 2 weeks?

Studies have indicated that exercise plays a major role in both managing and preventing diabetes. But there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus that supports the claim that a 5-minute Japanese exercise cures diabetes in just 2 weeks.

A review published in Diabetes Care stated that exercise plays a significant role in the prevention and management of insulin resistance, prediabetes, gestational diabetes (GDM), type 2 diabetes, and complications related to diabetes. But the review focuses only on prevention and control, and does not mention exercise as a cure for diabetes.

Another review published in the American Journal of Medicine Open suggests that high-intensity interval training may be effective in reducing blood glucose levels. However, the review does not claim that exercise can cure diabetes in 2 weeks.

A study published in BMJ Journals reported that radio calisthenics, a traditional Japanese exercise, may help prevent the decline in skeletal muscle mass. Therefore, it could be considered beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Again, the study does not suggest that exercise can cure diabetes in 2 weeks.

There is no specific program called "Japanese gymnastics for diabetes," suggesting that regular physical activity and exercise can help in curing diabetes. Additionally, there is no scientific evidence proving that any form of exercise or gymnastics can cure the condition. Moreover, there is no medical consensus supporting the claim that Japanese exercise can cure diabetes within two weeks.

Dr Akhil Krishna, Associate Consultant, Endocrinology & Diabetes, KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum, "5 minutes of daily Japanese exercise is not a proven cure or reversal for diabetes, especially not within a mere two weeks. Japanese exercise is indeed a gentle, health-promoting exercise that can play a positive role in diabetes management as part of a comprehensive lifestyle plan. Scientific studies support that regular Japanese exercise practice over the long term can modestly improve blood sugar control, lower stress, improve balance, and enhance quality of life for type 2 diabetes patients​. However, the specific claims of the Holistic Japanese exercise healing method go far beyond the evidence. The notion of achieving normal blood sugars while “not giving up sweets” is a fantasy that ignores basic nutrition science. No exercise, let alone a brief one, can allow unlimited sugar intake without consequences."

Dr. Achintya Sharma, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Vascular Surgery), Senior Consultant, Max Healthcare added, "Japanese exercise is not a scientically proven treatment for diabetes , life style modification is an essentia pillar in long term Managment of Diabetes Mellitus , but unrealistic and false propaganda regarding treatment not only creates wrong narrative but plays with lives of patient. Only proven treatment for DM is following healthy lifestyle and taking medications. A qualified professional is the right person to guide u in this regards,"

Medical Dialogues Final Take

While exercise is a proven tool in the prevention and management of diabetes, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support the claim that any form of exercise—including a 5-minute Japanese routine—can cure diabetes in just two weeks. Reviews and studies from respected journals highlight the role of physical activity in improving blood glucose control and preventing complications, but none identify exercise as a cure.

Hence, the claim that "a 5-minute Japanese routine can cure diabetes in just two weeks" is False.