Hypnosis And The Treatment of Diabetes
by William Bezmen, PhD, CS, RN and Judith Grant, ANPc, MSN

Diabetes Mellitus, as we well know, is a multi-faceted disorder requiring medical management and self treatment. Most of the responsibility of the maintenance of blood sugar levels is done by the diabetic through the monitoring of diet, exercise, and medication. This gives health care professionals the opportunity to teach, and the patients to learn self empowerment. One of the most effective self empowerment modalities is the mastering of self hypnosis. Self hypnosis is a state of mind in which a person can learn to respond to his/her own suggestions more powerfully than possible without its use. It is a natural state of being that once learned, can instruct and direct the unconscious mind and body to accomplish goals that might otherwise appear to be too difficult or even impossible to achieve. Self hypnosis is a state of mind that virtually everyone, with practice, can learn to use. It is an intense form of concentration that is often experienced without our realizing it, many times during a day. Have you ever been so absorbed reading a good book, or engrossed in a project or a movie, that you have not heard someone speak to you or have not noticed how much time has passed? These are hypnotic like states. The difference between these types of concentrated attention and self hypnosis, is that in self hypnosis we learn how to direct our mind toward a clear and specific intention and do not require outside stimulation to focus upon.

There are four specific areas where this very powerful modality can be used in the management of diabetes: compliance with diet and exercise; blood sugar monitoring and administration of medication; stress reduction; and the use of visualization and imagery to stimulate insulin production by the pancreas.

It is readily accepted that the greatest challenge a diabetic faces is the ability to comply to the prescribed diet and exercise. Every diabetic knows the success that is achieved when he/she has followed a consistent diet and exercise regime. Likewise every diabetic knows the struggle that has been experienced when there has been an inability to follow the regime. This is where self hypnosis can be so effective. Once the individual has learned to communicate with the unconscious mind and has set a goal of commitment to a healthy diet and moderate exercise, the result is a feeling of self empowerment and inner strength needed to reach the desired outcome. The same process is used in the commitment to monitor blood sugar and administer medication.

The effects of stress on the physical body is well documented and certainly applies to the diabetic. Increased or uncontrolled stress can elevate blood sugar levels, decrease insulin production, and cause emotional and physical instability, thus creating a feeling of being out of control. The ability to stay focused upon goals becomes more difficult, if not impossible. When a person learns to use self hypnosis he/she can relax both physically and mentally in a matter of minutes. Progressive relaxation and meditation are forms of self hypnosis frequently used in the management of stress.

An area that is a little more controversial is learning to use the mind to control the organs and production of hormones in the body. In our western society, we feel that our conscious mind controls a great deal of our functioning. In fact, the conscious mind is estimated to only be about 5-7% of our total mind. The utilization of hypnosis allows us to reach into a greater part of the mind. Based on this premise, recent scientific studies point to the efficacy of using guided imagery and visualization to alter and enhance physiological functioning, especially in the area of hormone production. With the use of visualization and imagery, components of self hypnosis, we can imagine the pancreas becoming more efficient and possibly increasing the production of insulin. In addition, visualization and imagery increases peripheral circulation and can also be utilized to decrease the pain and discomfort of neuropathies.

The health care arena is just beginning to understand the power of the mind and its relationship to healing. Clinical hypnosis and self hypnosis are modalities that assist us to gain greater control of our mind and bodies, thus creating an exciting marriage between traditional western medicine and what has been considered in the past to be alternative healing techniques. When self hypnosis is taught by a certified clinical hypnotherapist, it is a very powerful adjunct to the maintenance and control of diabetes.

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