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Effect of Foot Reflexology on Glycated Hemoglobin in Women with Type 2 Diabetes
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Maliheh Gholamzadeh    , Fatemeh Amini , Ali Mohammadpour , Habib Shareinia , Moosa Sajjadi * |
| Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran , sajjadi1975@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (21 Views) |
Background & aim: Type 2 diabetes is one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide, with rising prevalence and substantial associated complications in recent years, complementary therapies such as foot reflexology have attracted attention as non‑pharmacological approaches to blood glucose control. This study examined the effect of foot reflexology on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in women with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 30 women with type 2 diabetes. Participants were allocated into intervention and control groups using quadruple permuted block randomization. The intervention group received foot reflexology in 18 sessions of 30 minutes each (three sessions per week). Data were collected before and after the intervention and analyzed using the independent t-test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: At baseline, mean HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels were comparable between groups (P = 0.78 and P = 0.19, respectively). After the intervention, a significant reduction in HbA1c was observed in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = 0.015), and fasting blood glucose levels were also significantly reduced (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that foot reflexology is a simple, low-cost, and safe complementary intervention that may reduce HbA1c and fasting blood glucose in women with type 2 diabetes. Larger trials with more diverse populations are warranted to confirm these findings |
Article number: 7 |
| Keywords: Foot Reflexology, Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Type 2 Diabetes |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/03/14 | Accepted: 2026/06/23 | Published: 2026/07/11
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