The effect of benson relaxation therapy on fasting blood glucose in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder marked by elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Stress can influence blood glucose, medication adherence, and lifestyle behaviors. Benson’s relaxation therapy is a complementary intervention that may help reduce stress and support glycemic control. This study aimed to examine the effect of Benson’s relaxation therapy on fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in women with type 2 DM. Methods: Benson’s relaxation therapy was implemented three times per week for 12 weeks. FBG levels were measured at baseline (pre), and at one, two, and three months post-intervention. The study was conducted in the service area of Puskesmas Kakaskasen, Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, using a one-group pretest-posttest experimental design. A total of 30 women with type 2 DM were selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Kruskal‒Wallis, Mann‒Whitney U, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests. The Friedman test showed a significant difference in FBG levels across the four time points (p = 0.000). Wilcoxon tests revealed significant differences between pre- and postintervention (p = 0.000), pre- and month 1 (p = 0.000), and post- and months 1 and 2 (p = 0.006). No significant difference was observed between months 1 and 2. Age, education, duration of illness, and BMI did not significantly affect changes in FBG (p > 0.05). The results indicate that Benson’s relaxation therapy significantly reduces fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus, independent of demographic and clinical characteristics, supporting its recommendation as a complementary strategy for stress reduction and glycemic control, particularly in primary healthcare and community-based diabetes management programs.