Progressive muscle relaxation for blood glucose management in patient with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia, or elevated blood glucose levels. Epidemiological data reflects a significant rise in local prevalence, growing from 6,483 recorded DM cases in 2019 to 18,583 patients in Magelang district in 2023. If left unmanaged—particularly in elderly populations—chronic hyperglycaemia leads to severe systemic complications, including cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetic retinopathy, and stroke. Standard pharmacological management commonly relies on first-line agents such as metformin, thiazolidinediones, and sulfonylureas. Metformin remains the primary oral agent of choice due to its proven cardiovascular benefits, minimal risk of hypoglycaemia, potential anti-aging pathways, and high cost-effectiveness. Despite these therapeutic advantages, metformin exhibits notable adverse side effects, including chest discomfort, tachycardia, headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, constipation, and flatulence. To complement medical regimens and mitigate disease burden, non-pharmacological supportive interventions are frequently integrated into nursing care. Among these, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) therapy serves as an effective complementary technique to help stabilize blood glucose concentrations in patients with diabetes. In clinical practice, PMR involves structured muscle tension-and-release protocols performed for 15 to 25 minutes twice daily over a three-day period. Case study findings demonstrate that implementing PMR therapy led to a significant reduction in random blood glucose levels, decreasing from a baseline of 235 mg/dL down to 190 mg/dL. Consequently, progressive muscle relaxation therapy represents a viable nursing intervention that positively influences glycaemic control by lowering blood glucose levels.

Keywords: Diabetes care, diabetes management, patient care, prevention, progressive muscle relaxation