Effect of Self-Acupoint Massage on Blood Glucose Level and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the effect of self-acupoint massage (SEAM) on blood glucose level and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sixty-six older adults with T2DM were enrolled and randomly divided into observation and control groups. Participants in the control group received routine nursing interventions, whereas participants in the observation group received a SEAM intervention in addition to routine nursing interventions. After 12 weeks of SEAM, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the observation group decreased from 8.35% (SD = 1.84%) at baseline to 7.29% (SD = 1.38%) (p < 0.01). Total score of the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQLS) in the observation group improved from 45.96 (SD = 4.29) at baseline to 41.3 (SD = 3.89) (p < 0.01). The physiological dimension of the DSQLS in the observation group improved from 49.65 (SD = 7.33) at baseline to 38.54 (SD = 4.68) (p < 0.01). As SEAM effectively decreased older adults' HbA1c level and improved their quality of life, it can be used as a complementary approach to routine nursing interventions for community-dwelling older adults with T2DM. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45(8), 43-48.].