Mindfulness is defined as "the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something." This concept has become a hot topic in the past couple of decades. The roots of this idea are ancient—martial arts, yoga, meditation and Buddhism are all closely related to it.
Mindfulness is a very powerful tool. There are reports that Buddhist monks who sleep in freezing conditions in the mountains of Tibet are able to control their body temperature using this technique! You have to ask yourself...what things could be possible in your own life if you were able to master this practice?
Four hundred participants in a study at Brown University recently gave us a hint at what is possible. Using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), researchers found a significant association between dispositional mindfulness and glucose control. After evaluating their findings, the authors hypothesize that being aware of the present moment can lead to reduced likelihood of obesity and a greater sense of control when eating. They further suggest that being more self-conscious could possible help to control stress levels, which also affect blood glucose levels.
Be aware that this study has its limitations…and you can read about those by reading the original article here. It is certain that more research is necessary to verify these findings. In the meantime, mindfulness is inexpensive and easy to learn. Why not give it a try?
My reason for raising the issue in a blog about chronic pain is this:
If a person can use mindfulness to control blood glucose levels, they may be able to prevent type II diabetes, or even help reverse pre-diabetes. That means that they could prevent complications of type II diabetes, including peripheral diabetic neuropathy. An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure!
Sources:medpagetoday;google.com;everydaypainmanagementideas; i.ytimg.com
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