Biofeedback Works for Diabetes Control

Biofeedback-assisted relaxation hasbenefits for patients with type 2 diabetes.Because mood appears to havea moderating effect on blood sugar levels,researchers randomly assigned 39patients to either a biofeedback groupor an education group.

In the biofeedback group, patientshad 10 weekly individual sessions withrelaxation and training in biofeedback,problem solving, and stress management.Participants in the education grouphad 3 individual educational sessions,held 4 to 5 weeks apart, on facets of diabetes.Reporting in Diabetes Care (September2005), the researchers noted thatbiofeedback and relaxation were linkedwith considerable decreases in averageblood sugar levels and muscle tension,compared with the education-only group.After 3 months, the positive effect in thetreatment group continued.