The effect of acupressure on fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This study aimed to determine the effect of acupressure on stress, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, sixty-six diabetic patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into intervention and sham groups. The intervention group applied self-acupressure to the desired points for a month. The sham group were asked to slightly touch the same points. The DASS-21 and FBG were measured before intervention, 24 h after the intervention for both groups. In addition, HBA1C was measured for both groups before intervention and three months after the beginning of the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS 15. Statistical data analysis of 60 patients showed that the mean FBG and the mean stress score of the intervention group reduced significantly after the intervention (p < 0.001) but the mean rate of HBA1C in the intervention group did not differ significantly after the intervention (p = 0.21). Acupressure should be considered for diabetic patients to reduce their stress and FBG. • Some internal or external factors, such as stress, can affect the progression of diabetes. • These behaviors as a cause and effect of stress affect the secretion of cortisol and catecholamine's and increase FBS and HBA1C levels and consequently aggravate the short-term and long-term complications of diabetes. • Today, the use of complementary and alternative medicine such as acupressure has become widespread in the control of various types of diabetes. • In acupressure, it is believed that problems and diseases are created by the imbalance of life energy. • It seems that acupressure can help better control blood sugar in diabetics by reducing cortisol secretion, and thus reduce stress.