Mindful Eating and Mindful Movement for Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A pilot RCT

About This Grant

Project Summary Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition characterized by impaired blood glucose control ultimately leading to cardiovascular, renal, and cognitive dysfunction. T2DM prevalence continues to rise in the U.S., with massive health and financial consequences. Current diet and exercise recommendations often fall short in helping adults with T2DM achieve long-term glycemic control because they inadequately address common psychological barriers (such as chronic stress) that undermine adherence to lifestyle behavior change. Mindful eating and yoga have emerged as promising strategies for T2DM management by combining mindfulness practice with physical activity, dietary habits, and diabetes self-management. Both mindful eating and yoga have independently shown promise for improving glycemic control in adults with T2DM. Mindful eating may help improve emotional regulation, strengthen awareness of internal hunger and satiety cues, and promote increased consumption of nutrient-dense foods, all of which can contribute to improved blood glucose management. Similarly, yoga has shown promise for reducing stress, reducing inflammation, and indirectly supporting T2DM management by fostering healthier attitudes toward lifestyle changes. However, current research has several limitations, including a limited understanding of the mechanisms driving these effects, inconsistent use of yoga types across studies, a scarcity of studies conducted in the U.S, and few studies assessing the combined impact of mindful eating and mindful movement for adults with T2DM. Therefore, rigorous and culturally diverse research is needed to evaluate the combined impact of mindful eating and yoga on T2DM management. We propose a 12-week pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and early efficacy of a combined mindful eating and yoga intervention to lay the groundwork for a larger efficacy trial. Using a single-blind, two arm RCT, 60 adults (>18 years old) will be assigned to either: a mindful eating and mindful movement group (MEMO) or a standard of care exercise and diet group aligned with American Diabetes Association recommendations. Both groups will engage in hour-long exercise sessions 3x/week and group diet counseling sessions 1x/week. As the primary outcome, a comprehensive battery of feasibility and acceptability measures will be used to determine if a combined mindful eating and yoga program can be successfully delivered to this population. To quantify the impact of mindfulness on key health and clinical outcomes, we will use state-of-the-art measures, including biomarkers (cortisol and HgbA1c), accelerometer-measured physical activity levels, validated dietary assessments, and psychological health scales. Although this pilot study is not designed to establish definitive effects, these measures will provide valuable preliminary insights into how mindfulness delivered via mindful eating practices and yoga may influence metabolic, behavioral, and psychological outcomes in T2DM.