Mindfulness and Impulsivity in Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease worldwide, characterized by increased blood sugar levels. Growing evidences revealed the strong association of diabetes and psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, etc. Mindfulness is the awareness which arises out of intentionally attending in an open and discerning way to whatever is arising in the present moment, is positively associated with healthy condition. Impulsivity is a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli without regard to the negative consequences of these reactions to the impulsive individual or to others which is negatively associated with the individual’s health.

Aim: This study was intended to see the association of mindfulness, impulsivity with diabetes.

Method and material: Two hundred subjects (100= diabetic and 100=non diabetic) from local communities were enrolled in this study. All the subjects were administered Mindfulness, attention and awareness scale (MAAS) and Barrat impulsivity scale.

The results: There was a significant low MAAS score and significantly higher Barrat impulsivity scores in the diabetic group than in a non diabetic group.

Conclusion: Diabetic people have more impulsivity and less mindfulness state than non diabetic people.