Diabetes is a tough condition. It can affect multiple facets of your life, including foot health and exercise. You have to be conscious of and alter your behavior when you have the condition. Despite this, some things can help. Meditation is one of those things.
While we’ll go into the benefits in one second, we wanted to make a clear disclaimer: meditation is not a substitute for having a healthy relationship with your doctor, a healthcare team, dietary strategies, exercise plans, and of course, medication—whether you’re taking Metformin or insulin. Meditation is just the icing on the cake—don’t forget that. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’ll review the benefits of meditative practice for diabetes below.
What Is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is the ability to be present. It’s a form of mental training that allows you to quell your anxiety, diminish negativity, soothe your nerves, and improve your focus. Who wouldn’t want to do meditation after hearing about that? A gentle awareness allows you to be more in the moment and fully enjoy the world around you with fewer distractions.
What Are the Benefits for People With Diabetes?
We talked a bit about the benefits of mindfulness meditation above, but what about the benefits of it for a person with diabetes? There are quite a few. Beyond helping you relax and destress, it can also decrease your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and reduce oxygen intake. Moderating stress also lowers blood glucose levels as a side effect, which is essential for managing your diabetes.
You’ll also find that you’re more present to make better decisions. You’re not moved this way and that by life’s ups and downs. Instead, you’re more centered on making better choices for food and exercise overall.
Should You Practice?
You should practice if you’re comfortable with it. The beauty of practicing meditation is that you don’t need any fancy tools or extra paraphernalia. You only need yourself and the willingness to train your mind gradually. Ultimately, mindfulness meditation is of great benefit to people who have diabetes. It’s here to benefit you, and you should take advantage of it.
