Reducing diabetes distress and improving self-management with mindfulness.
Robin R Whitebird, Mary Jo Kreitzer, Gabriela Vazquez-Benitez, Chris J Enstad
Social Work in Health Care January 2018 DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2017.1388898 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 38 |
| Population | Adults with diabetes |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Diabetes distress Diabetes management Stress reduction |
| Key points | Participants completing an MBSR program showed significant improvements in diabetes-related distress (Cohen's d -0.71), psychosocial self-efficacy (Cohen's d 0.80), and glucose control (Cohen's d -0.79), plus improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, coping, self-compassion, and social support. The authors suggest MBSR may be an effective method for helping people self-manage diabetes and improve mental health. |
Abstract
Stress associated with diabetes makes managing diabetes harder. We investigated whether mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) could reduce diabetes distress and improve management. We recruited 38 participants to complete an MBSR program. Surveys and lab values were completed at baseline and post-intervention. Participants showed significant improvement in diabetes-related distress (Cohen's d -.71, p < .002), psychosocial self-efficacy (Cohen's d .80, p < .001), and glucose control (Cohen's d -.79, p < .001). Significant improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, coping, self-compassion, and social support were also found. These results suggest that MBSR may offer an effective method for helping people better self-manage their diabetes and improve mental health.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Measuring the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Program to Manage Academic Stress through a Resilience to Stress Index Sensors February 28, 2023
- Understanding the Experiences of How Mindfulness is Used by People with Cystic Fibrosis: Barriers and Enablers Mindfulness January 24, 2023
- Effect of mindfulness-based intervention in patients with diabetes: a meta-analytic review. Psychology, Health & Medicine April 15, 2025
- Effects of Compassion Meditation on Psychological Status in Patients With Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Western Journal of Nursing Research June 29, 2026
- A blended mindfulness-based stress reduction program to improve diabetes self-management among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a mediation effect analysis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine January 4, 2025
and 3 more in the library
Cites 18
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Meditation Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics February 18, 2010
- Effect of Mindfulness‐Based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients Arthritis Care & Research September 28, 2007
- Mindfulness facets as differential mediators of short and long-term effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in diabetes outpatients: Findings from the DiaMind randomized trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research June 2016
and 13 more in the library