Abstract
Objective: This study aims in understanding the effects of Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM), a type of mindfulness meditation, on the autonomic balance of type 2 diabetic patients through assessment of heart rate variability (HRV).
 Methods: After the initial screening of 30 type 2 diabetic subjects, 10 type 2 diabetic subjects between the age group of 30 and 65 years were randomized into two groups, diabetic test (n=5) and diabetic control group (n=5). Diabetic test group practiced IAM technique under the guidance of a trained practitioner. Both the groups continued the same dietary pattern and medications during the 6-month study period. HRV was taken for all subjects at baseline and after 6 months. In our study, we have focused on the power spectral analysis of HRV which include normalized units of high frequency (nHF), low frequency (nLF), and low frequency-high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio).
 Results: Mean percentage change in nHF, nLF, and LFHF ratio showed significant changes in between-group comparison (p<0.05). Normalized units of HF increased (p=0.049) while LF (p=0.036) and LFHF ratio (p=0.024) decreased significantly within test group after 6 months of IAM practice suggesting the potential of IAM in improving the parasympathetic tone, thereby tuning the mind and body to calm down during stress.
 Conclusion: Our study has shown demonstrable improvement in autonomic function which reflects reduced stress after the practice of IAM in diabetic patients.
Highlights
The past two decades have witnessed an increase in psychological interventions through mind-body medicine in clinical practices to impart effective treatment regimens in various stress-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, and anxiety-related disorders [1]
The patient was connected with limb leads of ECG, and the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) were obtained in supine position after 10 min of rest
The recorded data of 30 min duration were converted to European Data Format (EDF) by acquisition software and processed using code written in MATLAB
Summary
The past two decades have witnessed an increase in psychological interventions through mind-body medicine in clinical practices to impart effective treatment regimens in various stress-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, and anxiety-related disorders [1]. In the patient population, especially diabetic subjects, the distress and agony of the affliction and the related worsening of disease are common and continue as a vicious circle unless their stress component is managed effectively. Hon and Lee in 1965 were the first to demonstrate the clinical application of HRV. They showed that in fetal distress, disturbances in HRV were observed before changes in the heartbeat itself [5]. Later in the 1970s, HRV changes in diabetic subjects were used to predict autonomic neuropathy even before the onset of symptoms [6]. HRV is found to be lowered in diabetic patients than healthy individuals [7]
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