Comparison of the effect of combined relaxation and music therapy on blood biochemical characters and blood pressure on type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Undoubtedly, diabetes and its complications is one of the greatest diseases in worldwide with considerable concern for medical knowledge. There are different kinds of psychological treatments which may reduce the signs and symptoms of diabetic complications. Majority of researches indicated that consulting, music therapy and relaxation play significant and effective role on diabetes.

  Materials and Method: In this semi-experimental study 75 patients with diabetes type 2, according to subjects’ characters, were invited to participate in the study. They were divided into the intervention and control group randomly. The intervention group was stratified into 6 groups with 5 patients in each group. The intervention programs were carried through 10 sessions of music and relaxation therapy (consist of imagery, progressive muscle and breathing relaxation) and home practice for three months. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HbA1c and fasting blood glucose were measured before and after of study. All patients also filled out the questionnaire related to biography and some diabetes risk factors before and after the study.

  Results: A total of 73 patients (intervention group=28 and control group=45) completed the 3-month study period. The result showed that there were significant difference between FBS (p=0.03), systolic (p=0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.0001) in intervention group compared to control group.

  Conclusion: we suggest that combined relaxation and music therapy is a feasible and effective treatment on diabetes. Therefore, adding relaxation and music therapy to other treatments such as physical activity and diet, in people with type 2 diabetes, may help them to control and mange their diabetes .