Hypoglycemic effect of sitting breathing meditation exercise on type 2 diabetes at Wat Khae Nok Primary Health Center in Nonthaburi province.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of Somporn Kantaradusdi-Triamchaisri technique 1 (SKT1) of sitting breathing meditation exercise on type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND
METHOD: This quasi experiment study was performed on type 2 diabetic patients at Wat Khae Nok primary health center from April to May 2007 for a two-week period every Tuesday of the week (3 visits). At the first visit, the patients were educated about diabetes self care after breakfast. At the second and third visit, the participants were trained to practice SKT1 as intervention after breakfast. Post prandial plasma glucose and blood pressure before and after the intervention were recorded. Descriptive statistics and paired t-test were used to analyze the study data.
RESULTS: Fifty patients participated in the present study, 11 were males and 39 females. They had a mean age of 63.1 years (range 42-80). The present study revealed that SKT1 significantly reduced levels of postprandial plasma glucose by 19.26 +/- 30.99 mg/dl, (p < 0.001) in the second visit, and 17.64 +/- 25.48 mg/dl, (p < 0.001) in third week visit. Furthermore, systolic blood pressure in the second visit was significantly decreased by 6.49 +/- 11.77 mmHg, (p < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure in the third visit was also significantly decreased by 3.04 +/- 9.79 mmHg, (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The present study showed that SKT1 practice in type 2 diabetic patients had a post prandial hypoglycemic effect and a slight reduction to systolic and diastolic blood pressure.