The effectiveness of HeartMath biofeedback intervention to improve blood glucose levels among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Biofeedback interventions are widely used among naturopathic practitioners to treat and manage various health conditions, such as mental health-related disorders, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the biofeedback HeartMath emWave Pro intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 25 adults [male (n=14) and female (n=11)] participants (age: 51.32±4.13 years) were recruited in this quasi-experimental pilot study. Heart rate variability (HRV) and breathing analysis were trained and measured using HeartMath emWave Pro during biofeedback training. Blood glucose parameters [haemoglobin A1c (A1c)], fasting blood glucose, and post-prandial blood sugar) were measured pre- and post-intervention using a biochemistry auto-analyzer. Data were analyzed via the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and Spearman correlation. Results: Post-intervention findings revealed a significant difference in HbA1c, fasting blood sugar, post-prandial blood sugar, and cortisol (all, p<0.05). Post intervention, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (r=-0.408) and breathing (r=0.465) showed significant correlation with HRV (all, p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that HeartMath biofeedback training may improve blood glucose control in individuals with T2DM.