Effect of Deep Relaxation Technique on Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) may be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Performance of deep relaxation technique (DRT) may cause upturn of this deranged nerve function.Objective: To evaluate the impact of DRT on cardiac autonomic nerve function by analysis of time domain series of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in T2DM patients.Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 30 female T2DM patients aged 50-55 years with duration of diabetes of 5-10 years enrolled from the Out Patient Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. They performed DRT (20 minutes twice daily) for 3 months. Thirty apparently healthy female with similar age who did not perform DRT or any other form of exercise, were included as control. To assess the cardiac autonomic nerve function, time domain measures of HRV of all subjects were recorded by a data acquisition device Power Lab (Australia). HRV data of all subjects were collected at baseline (pre) and also after 3 months(Post). For statistical analysis, paired and independent sample t-test were used.Results: The pre-intervention values of resting HR was significantly higher (p