Endocrine Abstracts

Background

Diabetes is a multi-systemic disorder and psychosocial stress is a contributor for glycaemic derangement and resulting complications. Covid-19 has bought psychological stress and restriction of activity for many. Psychological risk factors such as anxiety and depression have been associated insomnia and fluctuations in BP and blood sugar values. Shavasana and other relaxation techniques have long been shown to reduce the stress. This relaxation can be utilized for reducing stress and resultant effects on health.

Aim

To see the effect of Shavasana a yoga-based stress reduction technique on blood sugar fluctuations, blood pressure rise and insomnia in diabetic patient during stressful situations during covid-19 Lockdown.

Method

120 patients, (35–65 years) with HTN and controlled T2DM in the past 2 years were randomly allocated to two groups of 60 persons each. Intervention was carried out at home base setting via web Parallel group – Shavasana group; and treatment-as-usual group (TAU). Therapeutic intervention comprised Shavasana practice 15 min daily at bedtime with walk for 15 min daily. The other 60 patients were only doing walk 15 min daily along with their usual treatment. (TAU Group). The participants were surveyed for blood sugar fluctuations, insomnia, ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Score), rise in BP more than 30 mmHg systolic from baseline measured daily.

Results

All patients completed intervention in the Shavasana practicing group. 2 patients left TAU group as they suffered other problems. Shavasana group had less incidence of blood sugar fluctuations 12% and 35% in TAU group. Insomnia was less in Shavasana group 13% as compare to TAU group 42 %. incidence of rise in systolic BP were 16% in Shavasana group as compared to 38% in TAU group. The Shavasana group had a lower ESS Score as compared to the TAU group.

Discussion

Shavasana based stress reduction techniques are beneficial in reducing stress and resulting in better sleep and less fluctuations in blood sugar and blood pressure values. There is a need to focus on these sorts of stress relaxation techniques as they could prove a handy tool in reducing the day-to-day stress and resulting adverse effects. Also, improvement in sleep quality and sleep patterns can promote health and reduce the adverse metabolic outcome due to insomnia. More studies should be conducted with various stress reduction techniques to see as to what helps most. These techniques can act as an additive treatment and reduce the pill burden and adverse outcomes.