Long-Term Yoga Practise Regulates Worry and Quality of Sleep in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Sleep-related disorders and elevated stress are known to disrupt blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The objectives of this study was to assess the effect of 3-months diabetes-specific yoga intervention in improving the quality of sleep and reducing the worry among patients with T2DM. The study also measured the salivary cortisol levels in T2DM. Furthermore, salivary cortisol levels were correlated with sleep quality, worry levels, and glucose levels.

In this randomized controlled trial (RCT) participants were randomly allotted into the yoga and control group based on the eligibility criteria. The Yoga group received yoga intervention specific to T2DM for 3 months, and the control group continued conventional treatment.

Of the 75 participants recruited, 38 participated in yoga and 37 in a control group with mean ± SD age 51.5 ± 9.8 years and 63 (84%) were men. The mean HbA1c (%) of the yoga group was 7.95 ± 1.27 and control group 7.6 ± 1.17. Repeated-measure ANOVA was conducted to analyze the statistical changes. The outcomes of our study revealed a notable enhancement in sleep quality (mean difference 3.4%, 95% CI (2.21, 4.77), p < 0.001) and a concurrent reduction in worry (mean difference 12.54%, 95% CI (8.4, 16.6) and p < 0.001), in yoga group. Study also showed significant reduction in the salivary cortisol (mean difference 0.09%, 95% CI (0.05, 0.13) and p < 0.001) level. The Pearson’s correlation test revealed a significant correlation between reduction in the cortisol level with the improved sleep quality and reduced worry level.

38 participants who underwent yoga intervention showed improvement in sleep quality and reduction in worry and salivary cortisol levels. The study also revealed a significant correlation between the decrease in salivary cortisol levels and the enhancement of sleep quality and the reduction in levels of worry. This study further confirms the effectiveness of yoga in T2DM.