Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relaxation training significantly reduced blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Hormones Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose/Objective

The present study was designed to test whether adding a relaxation training technique to the medical treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus could, adjusting for the non-specific factors of therapy, lead to an improvement in the patients’ condition.

Method

Forty-six participants were randomly allocated either to an experimental (intervention) group, receiving weekly sessions of relaxation training, or to a control group (placebo) receiving weekly blood circulation training exercises. Measures included the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, blood glucose levels, high-density lipoprotein levels, cholesterol levels, body weight, HbA1c levels, the Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), a diary checklist, and urine glucose levels. Assessment of psychological and physiological parameters was conducted before and upon completion of the intervention (8 weeks).

Results

Trait anxiety and the main metabolic measurement of blood glucose levels and HbA1C revealed significant differences over time, predominantly among patients in the intervention group.

Conclusions

Relaxation techniques as an adjunct to medical treatment are a useful tool for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization (2016) Global reports on diabetes. ISBN 978 92 4 156525 7 (NLM classification: WK 810)

  2. Winkley K, Ismail K, Landau S, Eisler I (2006) Psychological interventions to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 333(7558):65. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38874.652569.55

  3. Ismail K, Winkley K, Rabe-Hesketh S (2004) Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of psychological interventions to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Lancet (London, England) 363(9421):1589–1597. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(04)16202-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Padgett D, Mumford E, Hynes M, Carter R (1988) Meta-analysis of the effects of educational and psychosocial interventions on management of diabetes mellitus. J Clin Epidemiol 41(10):1007–1030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Steed L, Cooke D, Newman S (2003) A systematic review of psychosocial outcomes following education, self-management and psychological interventions in diabetes mellitus. Patient Educ Couns 51(1):5–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Koloverou E, Tentolouris N, Bakoula C, Darviri C, Chrousos G (2014) Implementation of a stress management program in outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial. Hormones (Athens, Greece) 13(4):509–518. https://doi.org/10.14310/horm.2002.1492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kramer JR, Ledolter J, Manos GN, Bayless ML (2000) Stress and metabolic control in diabetes mellitus: methodological issues and an illustrative analysis. Ann Behav Med 22(1):17–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Surwit RS, Feinglos MN (1984) Stress and diabetes. Ann Behav Med 6(1):8–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/6.1.8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Daniels GE (1939) Present trends in the evaluation of psychic factors in diabetes mellitus. Psychosom Med I.: 527-552

  10. Vandenbergh RL, Sussman KE, Titus CC (1966) Effects of hypnotically induced acute emotional stress on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus. Psychosom Med 28(4):382–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Luthe WS, Schultz JH (1972) Autogenic Methods Volumes II-VI: Medical Applications, Applications to Psychotherapy, Research and Theory, Dynamics of Autogenic Neutraisation, Treatment with Autogenic Neutralisation. Grune and Stratton Reprint Publisher: British Autogenic Society, New York

  12. Seeburg KN, DeBoer KF (1980) Effects of EMG biofeedback on diabetes. Biofeedback Self Regul 5(2):289–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Koehler B (1981) The effects of relaxation on psychological and physiological measures in diabetes mellitus. Diss Abstr Int 42(10) https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=7346504

  14. Fowler JE, Budzynski TH, VandenBergh RL (1976) Effects of an EMG biofeedback relaxation program on the control of diabetes. Biofeedback Self Regul 1(1):105–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bradley C (1988) Stress and diabetes. In: Fisher S, Reason J (eds) Handbook of life stress, cognition and health. Wiley, New York, pp 383–401

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hartman PY (1983) The effects of relaxation therapy and cognitive coping skills training on the control of diabetes mellitus. Dissertation Abstract International 43(3–8):871–872

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mendez FJ, Belendez M (1997) Effects of a behavioral intervention on treatment adherence and stress management in adolescents with IDDM. Diabetes Care 20(9):1370–1375. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.20.9.1370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Surwit RS, Schneider MS (1993) Role of stress in the etiology and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Psychosom Med 55(4):380–393

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cerpa H (1989) The effects of clinically standardized meditation on type II diabetics. Diss Abstr Int 499(8b):3432 https://www.qigonginstitute.org/abstract/3011/the-effects-of-clinically-standardized-meditation-on-type-ii-diabetics

    Google Scholar 

  20. Nuti L, Turkcan A, Lawley MA, Zhang L, Sands L, McComb S (2015) The impact of interventions on appointment and clinical outcomes for individuals with diabetes: a systematic review/Nuti et al. BMC Health Serv Res 15:355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Frank JD (1971) Therapeutic factors in psychotherapy. Am J Psychother 25(3):350–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Paschali A, Karamanos B, Griffiths I (1987) Effect of relaxation therapy on the control of diabetes mellitus. In: Christodoulou GN (ed) Psychosomatic medicine. Springer, Boston, pp 307–313. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5454-3_50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Jacobson E (1938) Progressive relaxation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  24. Spielberger CD (1989) State-trait anxiety inventory: bibliography, 2nd edn. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto

    Google Scholar 

  25. Liakos A, Giannitsi S (1984) Reliability and validity of the modified Greek version of the Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. Encephalos 21:71–76 http://www.encephalos.gr/index_gr.html

    Google Scholar 

  26. Nowlis V, Green R (1964) Factor analytic studies of mood. Technical report, Office of Naval Research: Contract No Nonr-668 (12)

  27. Cathy L, Smith J, Weinger K (2005) Stress and diabetes: a review of the links. Diabetes Spectrum 18(2):121–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

STAI-AD copyrighted 1968, 1977 Charles D. Spielberger. All Rights Reserved. Permission for use of Greek translation received from the Publisher Mind Garden, Inc., www.mindgarden.com.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Antonia A. Paschali

  2. Community Mental Health Centre, University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI), Athens, Greece

    Lily Εvangelia Peppou

  3. Diabetes Centre, General Hospital of Athens Evangelismos-Polikliniki, Athens, Greece

    Marianna Benroubi

Authors
  1. Antonia A. Paschali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lily Εvangelia Peppou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marianna Benroubi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonia A. Paschali.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards (Reference no. 239) of the research and scientific committee of Polikliniki, General Hospital in Athens, Greece and in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Paschali, A.A., Peppou, L.Ε. & Benroubi, M. Relaxation training significantly reduced blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hormones 19, 215–222 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-020-00187-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-020-00187-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation