Effects of Qigong on Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Condition: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Qigong therapy is a subtle energy-based methodology for preventing and healing diseases that
      has been practiced with remarkable results in China for about five thousand years. Recently,
      preliminary studies showed that Qigong exercises improve insulin resistance and glucose
      metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes. These studies suggest that Qigong therapy might be
      an effective and valuable complementary modality for treating type 2 diabetes. Type 2
      diabetes is a chronic disease marked by abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood.
      Diabetes is a serious disease, which, if not controlled, can be life threatening.

      The purpose of this project is to conduct a randomized, controlled pilot clinical trial to
      compare the effectiveness of Qigong therapy to mild exercise and conventional treatment in
      type 2 diabetes and to identify biological and psychological characteristics associated with
      subjects' responses to Qigong therapy.

      Aim 1: To compare the effects on blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level between a
      Qigong therapy group and non-treated control group as well as between Qigong group and a
      progressive resistance training (PRT) group before, during and after and 12-week
      intervention.

      Hypothesis 1: Both Qigong therapy and PRT will help type 2 diabetic patients reduce blood
      sugar levels to different degrees through improving insulin resistance. But the levels of
      reduction of blood sugar will be greater by Qigong therapy than by PRT due to enhanced
      insulin secretion.

      Aim 2: To compare the effects on fasting C-peptide and insulin levels between a Qigong
      therapy group, a PRT group and a non-treated control group before and after the intervention.

      Hypothesis 2: Qigong therapy will increase the endogenous insulin and C-peptide levels by
      restoring the functions of the pancreas, while PRT will not alter either insulin or C-peptide
      levels.

      Aim 3: To compare the effects of Qigong therapy and PRT on blood cortisol levels and
      psychological stress levels before, during and after the intervention.

      Hypothesis 3: Perceived stress and depression will be improved by Qigong therapy to a greater
      extent than by PRT, and blood cortisol levels will be reduced to a greater extent with Qigong
      therapy.
    


Intervention name(s): Qigong therapy; Progressive resistance training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): For 12 weeks, subjects in Qigong therapy group are to follow a disciplined regular practice, 3 times a week for about 30 minutes, including once a week with a certified instructor to lead and check the correctness of their practice.; For 12 weeks, subjects in the PRT group are to follow a disciplined regular practice, 3 times a week for about 30 minutes, including once a week with a certified instructor to lead and check the correctness of their practice.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Qigong; Breathing management; Glucose