Current status of mind-body interventions for vascular complications of diabetes


Author: Galper DI//Taylor AG//Cox DJ

Affiliation: Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Conference/Journal: Fam Community Health
Date published: 2003
Other:
 Volume ID: 26   ,  Issue ID: 1   ,  Pages: 34-40   ,  Word Count: 102  
    Impaired peripheral blood flow causes complications, disabilities, expenses, and deaths among persons with diabetes mellitus. Many individuals suffer from lower-extremity pain, reduced functional status, and impaired quality of life. Current conventional treatments include lifestyle modification, exercise, medication, and surgery. However, these approaches are often impractical or insufficient. Thermal biofeedback, however, alone or in conjunction with other mind-body techniques, improves peripheral circulation, pain, neuropathy, ulcer healing, ambulatory activity, and quality of life. It is noninvasive, inexpensive, and consistent with community-based approaches to diabetes self-management. As an adjunct to the medical management of diabetes, thermal biofeedback may help ameliorate some of the vascular complications.