Oral glucose tolerance test clearance in type 2 diabetes patients who underwent remission following intense lifestyle modification: A quasi-experimental study.

Achieving diabetes remission (HbA1c<48mmol/mol without the use of anti-diabetic medication for 3 months) might not assure restoration of a normal glycemic profile [fasting blood sugar level <5.6 mmol/L and Post-Prandial (PP) blood glucose <7.8mmol/L]. The study investigates the factors associated with OGTT clearance in patients under type 2 diabetes remission. Four hundred participants who achieved remission during a one-year online structured lifestyle modification program, which included a plant-based diet, physical activity, psychological support, and medical management (between January 2021 and June 2022), and appeared for the OGTT were included in the study. OGTT clearance was defined by fasting blood glucose < 5.6 mmol/L and 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose <7.8 mmol/L post-consumption of 75g glucose solution. Of the 400 participants, 207 (52%) cleared OGTT and 175 (44%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). A shorter diabetes duration (<5 years) was significantly associated with OGTT clearance (p<0.05). Pre-intervention use of glucose-lowering drugs showed no association with OGTT clearance (p<0.1). Post-intervention, the OGTT-cleared group showed significantly higher weight loss (p<0.05) and a decrease in HbA1c compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). Improvement in Insulin resistance and ß-cell function was also higher in the OGTT-cleared group compared to the IGT group (p<0.05). In conclusion, clearing the OGTT is a possibility for those achieving remission through lifestyle interventions. Higher weight loss, a shorter duration of diabetes, and improvement in insulin resistance were significantly associated with OGTT clearance in participants in remission. Future randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups may help substantiate our findings.

Effect of Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Relaxation Techniques as Mind-Body Medicine Practices to Reduce Blood Pressure in Cardiac Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Elevated blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Available evidence on mind-body medicine (MBM) techniques on blood pressure is inconclusive and provides conflicting results. The objective of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of MBM techniques on blood pressure in patients with cardiovascular disease. Randomized control trials (RCTs) done between the years 2000 and 2020 on cardiovascular disease, using MBM techniques such as meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction and relaxation techniques were searched through electronic databases such as PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL), EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Three authors independently performed article selection, data extraction and validation. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effect model and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) estimated for the effect size. Fifteen RCTs with 927 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity among the studies was very high for all analyses (I2>94%). For studies comparing systolic blood pressure, MBM interventions show a significant (p=0.01) effect when compared to conventional treatment, an overall estimated effect size of SMD - 0.78 (95% CI: -1.36, -0.20). For studies comparing the diastolic blood pressure, MBM intervention did not show any significant effect when compared to the conventional treatment, an overall effect size of SMD -0.26 (95% CI: -0.91, 0.39). The findings of the meta-analysis suggest that MBM interventions may improve systolic blood pressure alone in patients with cardiac diseases. With high heterogeneity and low quality of the included studies, more robust evidence is required before suggesting MBM as an effective treatment modality for reducing blood pressure in cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of massage on blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN) is a chronic medical condition that affects 1.13 billion people globally. Successful management of HTN is accomplished through both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Massage therapy, a widely practiced complementary and alternative medicine therapy that alleviates physical discomfort and promotes overall well-being. The current meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of massage on blood pressure in patients with HTN. METHODS: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Prospero, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, were searched from their inception up to March 2021. All experimental trials that met the (PICO) criteria were included. The primary outcome of the study was blood pressure. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to generate a summary of treatment effects, expressed as the effect size (Standardized Mean Difference - SMD), along with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI). RESULTS: Six studies were included in the review, in which 290 patients participated, 148 were in the experimental group and 142 in the control group. Meta-analysis showed a minimal reduction of systolic blood pressure (SMD: -0.65 mmHg, 95% CI: -4.75, 3.55) and diastolic blood pressure (SMD: -0.68 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.43, 1.06) with considerable heterogeneity (I2> 94%). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrated that massage therapy resulted in a minimal reduction in blood pressure among patients with hypertension. To suggest massage as an effective intervention to reduce blood pressure further randomized control trials are recommended. Additionally, the literature is limited and still emerging, further large prospective studies with long follow-ups are warranted to verify the findings from this meta-analysis.

Does hydrotherapy influence plasma glucose levels in type 2 diabetes? - A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Hydrotherapy is a commonly used treatment modality to manage various conditions including diabetes in the Naturopathy system of medicine. The objective of the current scoping review is to find the effectiveness of hydrotherapy on plasma blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. CONTENT: Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework was adopted for this scoping review. The studies which used hydrotherapy intervention for the management of diabetes or the effect of hydrotherapy on plasma glucose levels were considered eligible. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Google scholar were searched for English- language published articles till December 20, 2022. The following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keyword search terms were used ("diabetes" OR "type 2 diabetes" OR "diabetes mellitus" OR "plasma glucose level") AND ("hydrotherapy" OR "water therapy" OR "balneotherapy"). Two investigators independently assessed the studies for inclusion. Review articles, abstracts, and articles including the aquatic exercises as interventions were excluded. SUMMARY: In total, six studies met the inclusion criteria. Out of six, two studies used hot therapies, two studies cold therapy, and the remaining two used both hot and cold as interventions. The study results showed that hydrotherapy can be used as an effective intervention tool for blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. OUTLOOK: Integrating hydrotherapy treatments alongside conventional management can reduce blood glucose levels and thus reduce diabetes-related complications.

How Is It Possible to Treat Diseases Without Medicine?: A Qualitative Study on the Attitude and Perceived Benefits of Yoga and Naturopathy Among Patients Admitted at an Inpatient Hospital.

Background: Yoga and naturopathy (Y&N) is a system of medicine primarily focusing on restoration of health and well-being. Objective of this study is to understand the knowledge, attitude, and perception about Y&N among the inpatients of a government Y&N institution in south India. Methods: Focus group discussion was conducted in eight adult patients aged between 30 and 60 years who took Y&N treatments for a period of 10 days or more. Purposive sampling method was adopted. Oral informed consent was obtained. Results: Knowledge about the Y&N system of medicine was primarily through referral or "word of mouth." Perceived benefits were both physical and psychological. Uniqueness of the hospital as mentioned by participants includes individual attention, tailor-made treatment protocols, and one-to-one care to the needy patients. Conclusion: An integrated approach is very much essential that might bring about better treatment outcomes in patients.

Long-term remission of type 2 diabetes through intense lifestyle modification program - A case series.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission is being widely accepted and documented as feasible through calorie restriction and bariatric surgery. Recent studies with lifestyle changes have also shown T2D remission; however, long-term remission through lifestyle modifications is not yet established. Though glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a universally accepted indicator of glycemic status, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) would be a more robust marker in understanding whether the metabolic abnormalities in glucose metabolism have undergone complete remission as well. We present a case series of four patients enrolled in the Holistic Transformation Program, a lifestyle modification program, between 2016 and 2018. The intervention was a combination of a vegan diet, structured exercises, and stress management delivered over 12 months. All four patients successfully achieved T2D remission and cleared OGTT consecutively for a minimum period of 3 years. Our findings suggest that long-term T2D remission may be possible through lifestyle modification.

Type 2 Diabetes Remission Through Intense Lifestyle Modification with Three-Year Follow-Up of an Elderly Male on High Insulin Dosage: A Case Report.

An elderly obese male patient (60 yrs.) diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) presented to our clinic. He was on 94 units of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents during his initial consultation visit. After obtaining informed consent, he was enrolled into intense lifestyle modification program for a duration of six months, with a three-year follow-up after the intervention. The patient underwent complete remission losing 13 kg of body weight and also successfully clearing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) for three consecutive years. We present three unique features in the current case report: (1) Elderly age of the patient (2) OGTT clearance along with normalisation of HbA1c, and (3) High initial insulin dosage at baseline. A few of the common positive predictors of T2D remission documented in earlier studies include younger age and minimal or low doses of insulin. The current case study shows that older age and higher dosage of insulin, it is possible to undergo complete T2D remission along with OGTT clearance through intense holistic lifestyle modification. Future experimental studies with adequate sample sizes would help substantiate our observation.

Effectiveness of antenatal yoga in reducing intensity of labour pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Yoga during pregnancy was found to be beneficial in various aspects of pregnancy including pain management during the time of labour. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of antenatal yoga practices in reducing pain during the time of labour. Methods: We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, till January 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which measured the effects of antenatal yoga practices on pain management during labour were included. The main outcome was the pain intensity measured with any validated questionnaire. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated by using a risk-of-bias assessment tool developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. For the effect size, standardized mean differences (SMDs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were generated with a random effect model using R software (version 4.2.2). Results: Eight studies including 576 antenatal women between the age of 14 and 40 years were included. Results of this meta-analysis showed that yoga is effective in reducing labour pain (SMD: -1.34 95% of CI: -1.86, -0.81) with significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 73%, p < 0.0008). Conclusion: Antenatal yoga can be a promising intervention in the field of obstetrics to reduce the intensity of labour pain. However, we are still in need of RCT with a large sample size to confirm the reliability of the present meta-analysis.

Screening and validation of the iris manifestation among patients with hemiplegia - an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding and validating the science behind traditional diagnostic methods is a niche area to be explored. Iris diagnosis is one such valuable diagnostic tool used in Naturopathy. In the current study, we have assessed and documented the iris changes observed among patients with hemiplegia with respect to the iridology chart. METHODS: We recruited 35 patients with hemiplegia which includes both genders. Iris image was captured by Angel Kiss New 5.0MP Iridology Camera with Pro Iris Analysis Software. Lesion characters, such as open lesion, closed lesion, spot, furrow, radii solaris, intestinal crypts etc., in the iris were noted along with its various characteristics in an excel sheet in numerical order for analysis. RESULTS: Majority of the included patients were male (n=30) and the mean age of the patients was 46 years. The most common iris lesions noted were radii solaris and intestinal crypt in the cerebrum and cerebellum regions. Other notable lesions include open lesion, closed lesion, brown spot, hole and nerve ring. ROC analysis for selected iris lesions showed that intestinal crypt (AUC=0.82, p=0.01) and radii solaris (AUC=0.62, p=0.04) to be potential markers for hemiplegia. CONCLUSIONS: Two common lesions observed in patients with hemiplegia are radii solaris and intestinal crypt, corresponding to the cerebrum and cerebellum regions of the iris. Future studies with larger sample size would help warrant our current findings, and also the possible application of iris diagnosis as an early diagnostic marker for hemiplegia.

Immediate effect of a meditation technique on blood glucose, state anxiety and relaxation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot randomized crossover study.

OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major burden on global health and economy. Various Yogic techniques are found to be beneficial in the management of T2DM. Mind Sound Resonance Technique (MSRT) is one of the yoga-based meditation techniques observed to be effective in clinical settings. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with T2DM were randomized to either MSRT or supine rest (SR) sessions on two separate days separated by a washout period of one day. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured before and immediately after the sessions. State anxiety and subjective feeling of relaxation were assessed using Spielberg's state anxiety inventory (STAI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) respectively. RESULTS: There were significant differences between MSRT and SR groups in fasting blood glucose (p=0.019), STAI scores (p<0.001) and subjective relaxation (p<0.001). Within group analyses revealed significant reductions (p<0.001) in fasting blood glucose and STAI scores, along with an increase in subjective relaxation following the practice of MSRT, whereas, non-significant changes were found following the SR session. CONCLUSIONS: A single session of MSRT was found to reduce blood glucose levels and state anxiety along with enhanced relaxation when compared to SR.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of complementary and alternative system of medicine in Tamilnadu and Pudhucherry, South India.

OBJECTIVES: Complementary and Alternate medicine (CAM) remains as the major source of healthcare for majority of the Indian population. This widespread resource needs to be strengthened, adequately trained and effectively utilized in the national health care delivery system for delivering an integrated and effective health care system. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted involving 200 adults in two different settings-a community setting (n=100), and a hospital setting (n=100). A semi-structured questionnaire was used. RESULTS: Both in the community and in the hospital, siddha (80%) was the most well-known system of medicine, followed by Yoga (72%) and Naturopathy in the study population. However, the knowledge about the various available CAM therapies still seemed to be limited. CONCLUSIONS: Opinion on the integrated approach along with conventional medicine was welcoming. Still more awareness about these systems is required to facilitate integrative medicine in healthcare settings.

Effect of yoga on plasma glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin requirement in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to evaluate the short-term effect of yoga on plasma glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin requirement in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-years old female was diagnosed with T1DM at the age of seven. She was under Human Mixtard insulin 30-70, thrice/day for 15-15-15 units. She had a history of poor glycemic control, diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemic shock. At the age of 27, she got admitted with complaints of general weakness, joints stiffness and weight loss in our holistic health centre and underwent two weeks of yoga. Results showed a better reduction in the plasma glucose levels, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin dose and an increase in hemoglobin levels with no episodes of hypoglycemia after yoga. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga might be considered as a safer and effective adjuvant in the management of T1DM.

Effects of yoga breathing practice on heart rate variability in healthy adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted among healthy adolescents to assess the effects of a yoga breathing practice (Bhramari pranayama, Bhr.P) towards cardiac autonomic function using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. METHODS: Of the 730 eligible subjects screened, 520 healthy adolescents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either yoga breathing group (n = 260) or control group (n = 260). The yoga breathing group practiced Bhr.P. five days a week for a duration of six months while the control group continued with their daily routine without any intervention. Outcome measures were time and frequency domain of HRV in both groups which were assessed before and after the intervention using Lead II ECG. Linear models were used in the analysis of short term HRV. RESULTS: After 6 months of yoga breathing, the time domain parameters of short term HRV showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement towards the parasympathetic domain. Frequency domain parameters also showed the same direction of changes. In contrast, control group subjects showed a trend towards a sympathetic domain. CONCLUSION: The present study showed a positive shift in cardiac autonomic modulation towards parasympathetic predominance after 6 months of yoga breathing practice among apparently healthy adolescents.

Influence of Time of Yoga Practice and Gender Differences on Blood Glucose Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Normal Healthy Adults.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga in improving glycaemic control, whereas no studies are available showing the impact of time of practice on glucose levels. The current study explores the effect of time of yoga practice on glucose levels in community-dwelling adults with and without T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 189 subjects with T2DM and 121 subjects without T2DM underwent a 10-day yoga program which includes practical and theory lecture sessions for 60min every day, either in the morning or evening. Baseline and post-intervention assessments of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured on day-1 and day-10, respectively. Data analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16. RESULTS: Results of the study showed that in individuals with T2DM, a significantly higher reduction in FPG was observed while practicing yoga in the evening sessions than in the morning sessions. Likewise, a significant reduction in FPG was observed only in women who practiced yoga in the evening than in the morning, in non-diabetic healthy individuals, while the reduction was not statistically significant in men. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that reduction in FPG level was better while practicing yoga in evening than morning. Similarly, women had a better reduction in blood glucose level than men.