Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depressed Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term management and is accompanied by emotional stress. Psychological difficulties arising from the need for persistent self-management and difficulties due to complications related to the illness also lead to depression. Such depression results in difficulty controlling HbA1C, diet, exercise and medication. Therefore, depression management for diabetic patients is needed. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy modifies negative thinking patterns through mindfulness meditation that trains individuals to pay attention to what is and to not intentionally judge situations. This helps to ease depression and prevent a return to negative feelings. Thus, MindfulnessBased Cognitive Therapy could help with blood glucose management and the emotional stability of diabetic patients.

Intervention Effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Diabetes-Related Distress and Self-Care

“…What’s more, 23 patients with moderate distress in IG were transformed into mild stress level at T2 and T3. These findings in this study were similar to the conclusions drawn by the other two studies ( 9 , 10 ), but were slightly different from the findings in Van Son’s study ( 8 ). The main reason could be attributed to the fact that, China has thousands of years of Buddhist culture; Chinese patients were much easier to accept the embedded Buddhist ideas in MBCT than those who believed in Christ in western countries ( 8 ).…”

“…The mental intervention effects of MBCT and cognitive-based therapy were compared and showed that both therapies can effectively remit the DD of patients ( 9 ). According to clinical observation, MBCT can improve the self-care behaviors of patients with diabetes in terms of HbA1c control, diet, exercise, and meditation ( 10 ).…”