Background: Cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction has been associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) with reduced Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Regular practice of slow breathing exercise (SBE) improves cardiac autonomic nerve function. Objective: To assess the effects of slow breathing exercise on cardiac autonomic nerve function by analysis of HRV in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in 2015. For this, total 30 male diagnosed T2DM patients from the Out Patient Department of Endocrinology, BSMMU aged 45-55 years with diseases duration of 5-10 years were included in the study group. All the patients underwent slow breathing exercise (SBE -30 mins twice daily) for 3 months along with medical treatment. Mean heart rate (HR), mean R-R interval, standard deviation of the NN intervals (SDNN), Square root of mean squared differences of successive N-N intervals (RMSSD) of HRV parameters were recorded at the beginning of 3 months and also at the end of 3 months of study period. Thirty age, BMI matched healthy subject also included as control. For statistical analysis paired and unpaired sample t-test were done as applicable. Results: In this study, Pre-exercise value of mean HR was significantly higher (p< 0.001) and Pre-exercise values of mean R-R interval, SDNN and RMSSD were significantly lower (p< 0.001) in diabetic patients in comparison to control. After 3 months of performing SBE, post exercise values of all parameters were improved significantly (p< 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that SBE has some beneficial effects on cardiac autonomic balance in T2DM patients.

Background: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) with cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction has been found in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. Yoga based slow breathing exercise (SBE) improved this autonomic functions in healthy subjects. Objectives: To assess the effect of SBE on cardiac autonomic nerve function(CANF) by power spectral analysis of HRV in patients with T2DM. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried on 30 male diagnosed T2DM patients aged 45-55 years with disease duration 5-10 years enrolled from Out Patient Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. They performed SBE for 30 minutes twice daily for 3 months. Thirty apparently healthy age, BMI matched male who did not undergo any type of exercise were included as control. To assess the cardiac autonomic nerve function, power spectral analysis of HRV of all patients were done before and after 3 months of SBE. HRV data were recorded by polyrite D (RMS India). For statistical analysis, independent sample and paired sample t-test were used. Results: The preintervention values of Low frequency (LF) normalized unit(nu) and Low frequency/High frequency( LF/HF) ratio were significantly (p<0.001) higher and the values of LF power, HF power, HF normalized unit (HF nu) were significantly (p<0.001) lower in all diabetic patients compared to control. The postintervention values of LF power, HF power, HF nu increased significantly (p<0.001) and the LF nu, LF/HF ratio decreased significantly (p<0.001)compared to their pre-intervention values in T2DM. There were no significant differences between the post intervention values of LF nu, HF nu and LF/HF ratio in T2DM and the control. Conclusion: Impaired cardiac autonomic nerve function was significantly improved by SBE in T2DM. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2019, December; 14(2): 63-68

Background: Slow breathing exercise (SBE) has some useful effects on cardiovascular system. Objectives: To observe the effects of slow breathing exercise on blood pressure in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: This interventional study was implemented on sixty (60) diagnosed male type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients aged 45-55 years with disease history 5-10 years, selected from Out Patients Department (OPD) of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. The subjects were divided into two groups, control group (n=30) included type 2 DM patients without SBE and study group included patients performing SBE for 3 months(n=30) and they were enrolled bypurposive sampling method. The study group was advised to practice SBE for 30 minutes 2 times daily for 3 months. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure(MAP),pulse pressure(PP) and rate pressure product (RPP)were recorded at the start of the study and after 3 months in both group of patients.. Independent sample t test and paired sample t-test were used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was taken as statistical significance. Results: In this study, the value of mean HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and RPP were significantly (p<0.05) reduced after 3 months of SBE. Again no significant changes observed (p>0.05) after 3 months in the group who did not practice SBE. Conclusion: Cardiovascular functions in T2DM patients was improved after performing slow breathing exercise for 3 months. J Bngladesh Soc Physiol 2021;16(1): 11-15