The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Healthy Lifestyle Program for Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based healthy lifestyle program in improving diabetes-related outcomes among older adults with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA quasi-experimental study recruited 82 older adults with type 2 diabetes from two hospitals in southern Taiwan. Participants chose either the intervention or control group. The experimental group underwent an 8-week mindfulness-based healthy lifestyle program that integrated diet/exercise board games (external wisdom) and mindfulness practices (internal wisdom). The control group received usual diabetes care. Outcome measures-symptom distress, emotional distress, interpersonal communication, self-management behavior, and HbA1C-were assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and 3 months later (T2).ResultsGeneralized estimating equation analysis revealed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in interpersonal communication, self-management behaviors, and HbA1C from T0 to T1 and T0 to T2 compared to the control group.ConclusionThe results support integrating mindfulness and gamified education into diabetes care for older adults.