Endocrine Abstracts

Aims and objectives: To assess the effect of Comprehensive Yogic Breathing Program on glycemic control, quality of life, and cardiac autonomic functions in diabetes.

Material and methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled intervention trial. 120 diabetes patients who were having HbA1c between 6 and 8% for atleast 6 months were selected. Oral drug dose was adjusted to keep the HbA1c between 6 and 8. Plasma fasting glucose, post prandial plasma glucose, HbA1c, quality of life, and cardiac autonomic functions were assessed in 120 diabetics. Patients were randomized into two groups, one group receiving standard therapy for diabetes (n=56) and the other group receiving standard therapy for diabetes and comprehensive yogic breathing program (n=64). Standard therapy included advice on diet, walk, and oral antidiabetic drugs. Comprehensive yogic breathing program is an interactive session in which Sudarshan kriya yoga followed by pranayam is taught by certified teacher. Change in fasting, post prandial plasma glucose, HbA1c, and quality of life were assessed. Cardiac autonomic function tests were done before and 6 months after intervention.

Results: There was a significant improvement in psychological (P=0.006) and social domains (P=0.02) and total quality of life (P=0.02) in the group practicing comprehensive yogic breathing program as compared to the group following standard therapy alone. The improvement in sympathetic autonomic function was statistically significant (P=0.009) in the group following breathing program, while the change in standard group was not significant (P=0.06). The fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c comparable in both groups. The post prandial plasma glucose, decreased significantly in the group practicing breathing programme.

Conclusion: There was signficant improvement in postprandial plasma glucose, sympathetic cardiac autonomic functions and quality of life in the group which received comprehensive yogic breathing program.