Stress Management Training Helps Control Diabetes

Good diabetic control minimizes the risk of complications. Stress affects control directly through the release of hormones and indirectly by disrupting self-management activities. There have been numerous studies examining the impact of stress management interventions on glycaemic control. Researchers at Monash University in Australia recently reviewed all such studies since 1980 using searches of Medline and PsycInfo databases. The general trend suggested that stress management interventions may be useful in management of diabetes. Further research will provide greater understanding of the particular benefits of various components of stress management training in relation to specific subgroups of the diabetic population.