Integrating mindfulness and physical activity for diabetes prevention and management: systematic review

Background: Urgent need lies in the development of more effective and holistic interventions that encompass both the physical and psychological dimensions of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of integrating mindfulness and physical activity in the prevention and management of diabetes. Method: The systematic review of existing literature aims to highlight the importance of a deeper understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and physically active activities in the context of diabetes prevention and managing. Result: The results of this systematic review highlight multiple beneficial outcomes, including improvements in psychological well-being and diabetes management, holistic care, parasympathetic activity, insulin resistance, stress reduction, self-management, and mindful eating. Conclusion: The findings advocate for the adjunctive use of mindfulness-based interventions like mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), MBCT, and MB-EAT in diabetes care, offering avenues to mitigate stress, bolster self management, and potentially augment diabetes care through enhanced self-efficacy, knowledge, and communication. Keywords: Self-Management, Mindfulness, Insulin Resistance, Psychological Well-Being, Self Efficacy, Exercise, Aging