Abstract
Diabetes management should focus on biopsychosocial aspects and comprehensive care.
The philosophical tenets of Buddhism can be a source of inspiration for both the individual
with diabetes and health care provider. Buddhism preaches the immutable relationship
between action and outcomes. This has a corollary in diabetes care; optimized metabolic
control in diabetes is associated with improved short- and long-term outcomes and
a legacy effect. Buddhism emphasizes on maintaining a “middle path.” When applied
to diabetes care, this would mean avoiding both extremes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
and optimization of metabolic health while minimizing treatment-emergent adverse events.
Mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction strategies may further improve not only
psychological health but also biophysical outcomes in diabetes and merit further research.
Keywords
biopsychosocial diabetes management - metabolic karma - metabolic vipaka - mindfulness
meditation
