Naveen K. Visweswaraiah.
Associate Professor and Co-PI,ICMR Center for Advanced Research in Yoga and Neurophysiology, SVYASA, Bengaluru.
faiths.research@gmail.com

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Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition which is known to have multiple factors in its causation as well as in the management. Major lifestyle components viz., eating and exercise behavior are considered as risk factors in causation and predictors of glycaemic control. There are attempts to correlate personality traits with the cause and course of diabetes mellitus. Type D personality refers to the tendency to experience negative emotions and to inhibit self-expression in social interaction. Type D personality is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. In recent times Type D personality is also implicated in diabetes mellitus. Further antisocial Type A personality trait is linked to CHD and propensity to laugh is considered as cardio-protective.

Personal models of diabetes, i.e. patients’ beliefs about symptoms, treatment effectiveness, consequences (impact on life, seriousness) and emotional response to possible short- and long-term complications, have been associated with diabetes self-care behaviors. Personal models of diabetes are influenced by health threat communication, demographic and personality factors. Lower average blood glucose values at baseline are associated with higher scores for the personality domain of neuroticism and several specific traits including anxiety, anger, hostility depression, self-consciousness, and vulnerability but associated with lower scores for the trait of altruism. Cluster B Dependent profile and P2 personality [“dramatic-dependent”] profiles are associated with poor metabolic control.

These findings support the concept of tailoring health messages to the needs of individual patients and provide information on factors to be taken into account in the diabetic education process. Yoga and Ayurveda defines personality based on the dominant doshas [physical substrates] and gunas [inherent qualities]. Hence offer individual specific treatment strategies factoring personality traits in the management of diseases including diabetes mellitus.