Mindfulness for Diabetes Management

The practice of mindfulness is good for what ails anybody, including anybody who has diabetes.

There is already a slew of research proving that being mindful, or learning to keep our attention in the present moment, does wonders for human health.

Being mindful breaks up thought patterns that trigger and sustain stress, anxiety and depression. By not paying attention to our negative self-talk and worries, we starve them and they lose energy. Our mind is free to focus on our needs and take care of business, including managing symptoms of diabetes.

Why Mindfulness Helps with Diabetes

Blood Pressure

The regular practice of mindfulness has been shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure. This is more important for the management of diabetes than most people realize.


Research done in the UK revealed that diabetics who have controlled blood pressure, meaning it stays within the normal range most of the time, are 30 percent less likely to experience complications from diabetes such as heart attack or stroke.

The researchers also discovered something quite surprising: Keeping blood pressure normalized had more of a positive impact on a diabetic’s quality of life and longevity than monitoring blood glucose levels. (That’s not to say managing glucose is unimportant.)

Managing Glucose Levels

Mindfulness practice also increases glycemic control, helping individuals avoid episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. In a different research study, one group of participants was educated about diabetes. A second group received the same diabetes education and participated in an eight-week mindfulness course.

The group that received diabetes education and mindfulness training had significantly less anxiety and lower blood pressure than those who had only the education sessions. Participants who took the mindfulness course also reported better diabetes self-care. They were more likely than those in the education-only group to maintain their glucose (glycated hemoglobin) in the target range.


Consider Learning Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness also helps people manage the psychological issues that arise with having a chronic disease. Learning to stay in the present moment and remain non-judgmental makes is easier to deal with the uncertainty of an illness as well as issues related to self-esteem and mood management.

Acquiring mindfulness takes effort, but the mechanics of it are not difficult to grasp. You can pick up the skill by taking a class, reading a book, visiting a website, watching YouTube videos, buying DVDs, or simply making an effort to keep your mind on whatever task is at hand.

Even a few moments of mindfulness scattered throughout the day helps the body recover from stress. Mindfulness also allows us accept the things in our life that we would rather not accept.


Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t). ~ James Baraz

Source: Diabetes.co.uk


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...