Background
Our 55-year-old client was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a year ago. They struggled with managing blood glucose levels, stress, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A hypnotherapist (Louise) was sought, to complement their medical treatment and improve their overall well-being.
Initial consultation
Louise conducted a thorough assessment of their lifestyle, stress levels, and diabetes management challenges. A thorough explanation of hypnosis was provided, in addition to the opportunity to ask questions and experience hypnosis.
Session 1: Stress Reduction and Conditioning
The primary goal of this session was to reduce stress, which is known to elevate blood sugar levels². The hypnotherapist used progressive muscle relaxation techniques and guided imagery to help them achieve a deep state of relaxation. This session aimed to lower their cortisol levels, thereby reducing blood glucose levels².
Session 2: Enhancing Motivation and Healthy Habits
In the second session, the focus shifted to enhancing the client’s motivation to adopt healthier habits. The hypnotherapist employed hypnotic suggestions to reinforce positive behaviours such as regular exercise and a balanced diet. These suggestions acted as a motivational coach, altering the client’s beliefs and behaviours to support better diabetes self-management¹. The session also included visualisation techniques where the client imagined their self successfully managing their diabetes and feeling healthier.
Session 3: Addressing emotional eating
The third session targeted emotional eating, a common issue for many individuals with diabetes. The hypnotherapist used analytical hypnotherapy to uncover the unconscious reasons behind the client’s unhealthy food choices. By addressing these root causes, the client was able to develop healthier eating habits. The session also included post-hypnotic suggestions to help the client make mindful food choices and resist food cravings³.
Session 4: Reinforcement and self-hypnosis training
The final session focused on reinforcing the positive changes.
Options for further work
Options were presented to the client regarding self-hypnosis training. This would have provided the client with a personalised self-hypnosis script and some hypnotic tools to use at home, empowering them to manage stress and maintain healthy habits independently. However, the client declined this at the present time.
Outcomes
After 4 sessions, the client reported significant improvements in their stress levels, dietary habits, and overall diabetes management. Their blood glucose levels became more stable, and they felt more in control of their health. The combination of stress reduction, motivational enhancement, and addressing emotional eating through hypnotherapy proved to be effective in supporting the client’s lifestyle changes.
Scientific Evidence
Research supports the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in managing diabetes. Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can reduce stress, lower blood glucose levels, and promote healthier behaviours¹-². Hypnotic suggestions can act as a motivational coach, helping individuals alter their beliefs and behaviours to enhance diabetes self-management¹. Additionally, hypnotherapy has been found to be effective in addressing emotional eating and promoting weight reduction, which are crucial for managing Type 2 diabetes³.
Can I help?
If you think I could help you in this regard, know that we offer hypnotherapy both online and face-to-face for those resident in the UK. I am dual-registered (with GHR and CNHC) and an ex-nurse holding health studies, child health diplomas from Bradford University and a diploma in clinical hypnosis from ISCH. I have a clear DBS check and work with adults and children aged 12+. Get in touch if you’d like to know more.
Sources
(1) Hypnosis in the Treatment of Diabetes – Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/understanding-hypnosis/202203/hypnosis-in-the-treatment-diabetes.
(2) From Stress Reduction to Healthy Choices: Hypnotherapy’s Influence on …. https://www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/13277/hypnotherapy-diabetes-management/.
(3) Psychotherapy Intervention With Hypnosis In Patients With Type 1 …. https://www.europeanproceedings.com/article/10.15405/epsbs.2017.05.10.
(4) Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and …. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238/full.
(5) undefined. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238.
