Mindfulness: a Novel Approach for the Management of Diabetes-related Distress

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age > 30 years

2. Male or female

3. Duration of diabetes 1-15 years from time of initial diagnosis

4. Diagnosis of T2DM made/confirmed by physician

5. Completed diabetes education in the past

6. Most recent HgA1c >7%; measurement must be within the past 6 months either in
physicians office or at the Thriving with Diabetes Boot Camp Class

7. Treatment for diabetes must include any or all of the following modalities:

diet, exercise, oral medications, insulin or other injectable diabetic medication

8. Score > 30 on the Problem Area in Diabetes (PAID) Questionnaire

9. Able to use a glucometer for self-monitoring of blood glucose values

10. Most recent clinic blood pressure less than 180/95

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of ketoacidosis

2. Age at diagnosis of T2DM < 30 years

3. Score >15 on the PHQ-9

4. Previous training in relaxation or meditation techniques

5. Current practice of yoga, tai chi or any other mind-body movement for > 60 minutes
per week

6. Current use of a psychoactive drug for less than 3 months or not yet on a stable dose

7. Inability to participate fully or behave appropriately in the group treatment
setting, as observed by baseline acknowledgement of substance abuse, psychotic
episode(s), psychiatric hospitalization or history of self- harm within the past 2
years, or current suicidal or homicidal ideation

8. Inability to complete standardized instruments because of a cognitive deficit or
language barrier

9. Current use or use within the past 3 months of oral glucocorticoids, excluding
intraocular, topical or inhaled preparations

10. History of inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory
bowel disease

11. Use of immune modulating agents

12. Night shift work or other type of schedule in which sleep wake cycle is disrupted

13. Women who consume > 7 alcoholic drinks per week and men who consume > 14 drinks per
week

14. Current use or history of daily tobacco use within the past 1 year

15. End stage renal failure on dialysis

16. Pregnancy or post partum <3 months

17. Subjects with known secondary causes of hypertension including renal artery stenosis,
pheochromocytoma, coarctation of aorta, hyperaldosteronemia

18. Non-dominant arm circumference > 46cm

19. Unwilling to accept randomization