Context: Psychological distress is linked with impaired glycemic control among diabetics.
Objective: Estimate changes in glycemic control, weight, blood pressure, and stress-related psychological symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes participating in a standard Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.
Design: Prospective, observational study.
Setting: Academic health center.
Patients: Adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Interventions: Participation in MBSR program for heterogeneous patient population. Diet and exercise regimens held constant.
Main outcome measures: Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HA1c), blood pressure, body weight, and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (anxiety, depression, somatization, and general psychological distress scores).
Results: Eleven of 14 patients completed the intervention. At 1 month follow-up, HA1c was reduced by 0.48% (P = .03), and mean arterial pressure was reduced by 6 mmHg (P = .009). Body weight did not change. A decrease in measures of depression, anxiety, and general psychological distress was observed.