Associations of Mindfulness with Glucose Regulation and Diabetes

Abstract

Objective To evaluate whether dispositional mindfulness is associated with glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes. Methods Study participants (N = 399) were from the New England Family Study, a prospective birth cohort, with median age 47 years. Dispositional mindfulness was assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Type 2 diabetes and “normal plasma glucose” were defined using American Diabetes Association criteria. Results Multivariable-adjusted regression analyses demonstrated that participants with high versus low MAAS scores were significantly more likely to have normal plasma glucose levels (prevalence ratio = 1.35 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08,1.87)), and were not significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (prevalence ratio = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.38,1.79), adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family history of diabetes and childhood socioeconomic status. Mediation analyses provided evidence of mediation via obesity and sense of control, where indirect effects were prevalence ratios (95% CI) of 1.03 (1.00,1.10) and 1.08 (1.00,1.21), respectively. Conclusions Dispositional mindfulness may be associated with better glucose regulation, in part because of a lower likelihood of obesity and greater sense of control among participants with higher levels of mindfulness. These findings need to be replicated by prospective studies to establish causality and to evaluate potential implications for mindfulness-based interventions to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.

Mindfulness Is Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome among Individuals with a Depressive Symptomatology

“…In our study, higher mindfulness was associated with lower levels of fasting glucose among individuals with a depressive symptomatology. One study showed that individuals with high scores of dispositional mindfulness were more likely to have normal blood glucose level [ 49 ], which is consistent with our results. In addition, a randomized control study showed that individuals who received a mindfulness intervention had lower fasting glucose level compared with individuals who did not receive an intervention [ 50 ].…”

Mindfulness and Behavior Change

“… 20 A pilot eight-week MBSR group adapted for hypertension demonstrated significant changes in modifiable determinants of blood pressure—physical activity, diet, and alcohol consumption—for those who were nonadherent to American Heart Association guidelines at baseline, and changes were maintained at one year. 382 Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who participated in an eight-week group program followed by ten monthly sessions reported increased health behavior changes and improvement in coping with illness. 383 Qualitative findings from 41 individuals with long-term conditions participating in MBSR emphasized that “starting where I am” facilitated changes related to coping with and managing their illnesses.…”

“…384 Mindfulness training helped lower blood glucose levels 385 and hemoglobin A1c 386 among those with type 2 diabetes but not among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes, 387 suggesting further research is required. 382 Longer-term continuation groups beyond eight weeks and the addition of kindness and compassion elements may be an important adaptation for helping those living with chronic illness. 388 …”

Meditation or exercise for preventing acute respiratory infection (MEPARI-2): A randomized controlled trial

“…Exercise is known to benefit people with diabetes and cardiovascular disease [66,67], may protect against cancer [68], and appears to confer psychological benefit [69][70][71]. Mindfulness training likewise appears to have pleiotropic effects, with reasonably strong data supporting its capacity to alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, and pain [72][73][74][75][76][77], and some preliminary evidence for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions [78][79][80][81][82]. In a clinical world characterized by multimorbidity [83], interventions impacting a variety of conditions should be judged on the sum of their benefits, and not only on their effects on specific illnesses.…”