Title

Reducing Diabetes Distress and Improving Self-Management with Mindfulness

Department/School

Social Work

Date of this version

2018

Document Type

Article

Keywords

diabetes distress, mindfulness, stress reduction, diabetes management, MBSR

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2017.1388898

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.

Volume

57

Issue

1

Published in

Social Work in Health Care

Citation/Other Information

Whitebird, R. R., Kreitzer, M., Vazquez-Benitez, G., & Enstad, C. (2018). Reducing diabetes distress and improving self-management with mindfulness. Social Work in Health Care, 57(1),48-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00981389.2017.1388898

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