Stress management training as related to glycemic control and mood in adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 147 - 152
• Main Authors: Stenström, Ulf, Göth, Alvar, Carlsson, Christina, Andersson, Per-Olof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.06.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Affect; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood glucose control; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - psychology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Management. Various non-drug treatments. Langerhans islet grafts; Medical sciences; Mood; Relaxation Techniques; Relaxation Therapy; Relaxation training; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Relaxation training; Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Blood glucose control; Mood; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; Autoimmune disease; Glucose; Blood; Stress; Clinical management; Type 1 diabetes; Insulin dependent diabetes; Adult; Hemoglobin A; Psychological/therapy; Glycosylated/metabolism; Type 1/blood/psychology; Diabetes Mellitus
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8227(03)00018-4

Relationships between attending a stress management and relaxation-training program, glycemic control (HbA 1c) and mood were examined in two randomised groups of 31 persons with Type 1 diabetes. The program involved group-education 2 h a week for 14 weeks. Whereas one group received the program, the other acted as a control group and received the program later. HbA 1c was measured and subjects filled out a mood adjective checklist before the start of intervention and both 1 month and 1 year after completing it. In both groups, significant positive mood changes were obtained, but no significant changes in HbA 1c values occurred. No significant relationship was found between measures of change in HbA 1c and of changes in mood. For those attending the group-sessions less frequently, the HbA 1c values were significantly worse on each of the three measurement occasions than the values of those attending more frequently. The effectiveness of the program, with its failure to improve glycemic control but enhancing the mood of participants, is discussed in terms of characteristics of the sample and various methodological issues as well as in comparison with results of similar studies involving Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.