Mindful Eating, Self-Care and Managing Diabetes: A Holistic Approach to Helping Patients Reclaim Their Health and Well-being

Abstract

1 and often gain more than before. Moreover, dieting reduces metabolism, may cause nutritional deficiencies, increases cravings for food and the neurochemical reward that comes from food, and increases fat storage. What's more, patients experience lowered selfesteem, guilt, shame, hopelessness and a sense of failure to the point where many may even give up trying to be healthy. As a psychotherapist and eating behaviour specialist, I see a lot of patients who know what to do but are unable to do it because they have not fully understood the link between food and their emotions. Many have forgotten what real physical hunger feels like, what fullness feels like, what it means to enjoy food as food instead of seeing it as a composition of carbohydrates (which they think are to be shunned) or proteins or fats. Some have even had bariatric surgery and reduced their stomach capacity yet struggle to stop themselves from eating sweet, salty and/or high fat comfort foods in an effort to soothe the emotional pain or discomfort they experience. The first step in working with diabetic patients, particularly those who are overweight and/or obese is to recognise that simply explaining to them what to eat and what not to eat is simply not enough. In fact, it may be counterproductive as many of these patients probably already have some background knowledge and hearing it again reinforces the inner shame and guilt they feel for being overweight in the first place. While some patients do need basic education on how and when to monitor blood sugar, the kind of carbohydrates they need to choose and avoid, what to do when they are hypo and hyper glycaemic and so on, most patients also need compassion and understanding. They need, first of all, to be told being diabetic isn't their fault and that there is much hope and help they can reach for to feel supported. From this place of reassurance from their doctors and health advisors, they are then more responsive to advice and information. The second crucial factor in helping diabetic patients, particularly overweight ones, is introducing them to mindfulness and mindful eating. In fact, research now Mindful Eating, Self-Care and Managing Diabetes: A Holistic Approach to Helping Patients Reclaim Their Health and Well-being