Could mindfulness be the missing link to helping interventions stick for people with Type 2 diabetes?
Key findings:
- Mental health benefits: Mindfulness practices may help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety in people with Type 2 diabetes.
- Blood sugar levels: Mindfulness practices may contribute to lower HbA1c levels (a measure of blood sugar control).
- Heart health: Mindfulness practices can slightly lower blood pressure, but the effects may not last long.
- Further research needed: While the evidence is promising, more research is needed before definitive clinical recommendations can be made.
New research from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at Western Sydney University has found that mindfulness practices could help people with Type 2 diabetes.
These findings were based on a systematic review, published recently in Integrative Medicine Research, that saw researchers analyse global evidence from 31 randomised controlled trials with a combined cohort of 2,337 people.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic endocrine disorder that affects how the body processes blood sugar. More than 1.25 million Australians have the condition, with estimates suggesting there could be an additional 500,000 Australians living with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes[1]. Worldwide, almost half a billion people have diabetes.
Without proper management the condition can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage.
Helping changes to stick
Diet and exercise modification have long been established as cornerstone therapies for the prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes. However, these self-management interventions rely on individuals with Type 2 diabetes being able to start and keep going with these changes to achieve improvements in blood sugar and overall health.
Study lead Associate Professor Carolyn Ee, Jacka Foundation Senior Research Fellow at NICM, said these ‘lifestyle’ changes can be hard for some people with the condition to adopt and maintain.
“We undertook this study to test if mindfulness practices could serve as the missing link between behaviour change adoption and long-term adherence, by improving overall levels of stress and other mental health concerns like anxiety and depression,” said A/Prof Ee
“We know that people with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience depression than people without diabetes, so it made sense to look at mind-body interventions like mindfulness.”
What counts as a mindfulness-based intervention?
In the general population, mindfulness practices have been shown to be effective for improving many health conditions, including depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, addiction, and excess weight. [2]
They are typically made up of two key components: moment-to-moment awareness, and acceptance without judgement.
To be included in this review, each mindfulness-based intervention investigated needed to have a primary aim of cultivating mindfulness, include mindfulness meditation as the main component, and utilise formal mindful meditation techniques such as body scanning, mindful breathing or mindful movement.
Keeping HbA1c improvements in mind
HbA1c, or glycated haemoglobin, levels are a critical determinant of blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
Evidence shows stress can have an effect on blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes, with its impact on disrupted sleep quality, diet changes and physical activity all negatively impacting HbA1c.
“The evidence in this review suggests mindfulness practices could reduce stress, depression, and anxiety in people with Type 2 diabetes, which means they may be a useful addition to standard diabetes care,” says A/Prof Ee.
The researchers also found that mindfulness practices may help to lower HbA1c levels, but A/Prof Ee cautions that more research is needed to understand their longer-term benefits.
“While these types of interventions show promise in helping to control blood sugar and potentially even lowering blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes, more research is needed before we can make definitive clinical recommendations.”
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For media enquiries contact: nicmcommunications@westernsydney.edu.au
