Background: Incidence of COVID-19 and time taken for recovery is reportedly higher among people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We in this study hypothesized that Yoga practitioners with T2DM have lower incidence and get recovered in optimum time (14-18 days) as compared to the latter.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online during the lockdown related to COVID-19 (CoV-19). Data was collected from Male (N=33) and female adults (N=33), (N=66, age range: 40-60 years) with T2DM for a duration of 8.5±8 years who were practitioners of yoga (YPs), (N=32) and non-yoga practitioners (NYPs), (N=34) who consented to take part. Middle and elderly adults with T2DM for 5 to 10 years, practitioners of Yoga (> 3 years), have never practiced yoga, knowing English, were included. Those with systemic complications, and residing in Bengaluru for less than 10 years were excluded.

Results: Among YPs, close to three-fourth of them (N=23, 71.9%) continued practicing yoga, and the rest of them discontinued during the peak of CoV-19. Among NYPs, more than one-fourth (N=10, 29.4%) of them tried joining for virtual yoga training programs, but couldn’t for multiple reasons. Fear of getting infected with CoV-19 was reportedly high among both YPs (N=26, 81.2%) and NYPs (N=26, 76.5%), (P=0.047).

Conclusion: Interestingly, YPs had a lower incidence of CoV-19 and the period of recovery was not longer than the NYPs, with a better body weight management and psychological wellbeing rejecting the study null hypothesis. Summing up, Yoga might have helped in resilience among YPs with T2DM.