Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Glycemic Markers, Stress, and Sleep in Older Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The prevalence of diabetes is a significant concern and is particularly impactful on the older adult population. Auricular acupressure is recognized as an effective complementary treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on glycemic markers, stress, and sleep quality in older adults with Type 2 diabetes in South Korea. Methods: The study involved weekly acupressure therapy sessions for 8 weeks, with 25 participants in the intervention group and 26 in the placebo group. Specific acupoints associated with diabetes, sleep, and stress were targeted in the intervention group, while unrelated acupoints were used in the control group. Subjective indicators such as stress and sleep scales, along with objective measures such as blood tests, heart rate variability, and sleep activity recorders, were employed in the analysis. Results: Significant differences were observed in blood sugar (F = 5.20, p < .001) and glycated hemoglobin (Z = −2.345, p = .019) between the two groups after administration of the acupressure therapy. However, no significant between-group differences were found in either glycated albumin or fructosamine. Also, activity in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves showed significant between-group variation. Although no significant between-group differences were found for subjective sleep indicators, notable changes in the number of awakenings, duration of awakening, REM sleep, and deep sleep conditions were identified. Conclusions: Although the effects are not strong, the findings suggests auricular acupressure influences glycemic index, stress, and sleep quality in older individuals with Type 2 diabetes positively. The results of this study support the potential of using auricular therapy as a nursing intervention in diabetes management.