Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral program on glycemic control and quality of life among adults with diabetes in Damascus, Syria: a randomized controlled trial
In brief
Mindfulness CBT cut HbA1c by 1.9 points versus routine care
In a 14-week randomized trial in Damascus, adults with diabetes and mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms who completed mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy had adjusted HbA1c 1.86 percentage points lower than routine-care participants. Quality-of-life scores also improved across all four domains, but results come from just 40 completers; whether benefits last or generalize to broader patient groups remains unknown.
- Journal
- Diabetes research and clinical practice (Q1)
- Published
- 1 November 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Zayn Al-Sham M Al-Qatranji, Adnan A Baddour, Mazen F Al-Shammat, Rasha Sh Mohamed, Alissar M Al-Qatranji, Mohammad F Hamadah
- PMID
- 42967509
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.diabres.2026.113640
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Internal Medicine (top studies of the week, 8 November 2026): Randomized trial of psychosocial care and glycemic control in diabetes
Abstract
AIMS: Depression and diabetes distress worsen glycemic control and quality of life (QoL). This randomized controlled trial evaluated a 14-week mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program on Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and QoL among adults with diabetes in Damascus, Syria. METHODS: Adults with diabetes and mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms were randomized to mindfulness-based CBT or routine care. Per-protocol analysis included 40 completers (n = 20/group). Post-intervention HbA1c was evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting for baseline levels. Secondary QoL was assessed across four WHOQOL-BREF domains. RESULTS: Intervention participants achieved significant reduction in HbA1c levels (9.0 ± 1.7% to 7.2 ± 1.4%, p = 0.021), while controls experienced an increase in HbA1c levels (9.1 ± 1.8% to 9.9 ± 1.7%, p < 0.001). ANCOVA demonstrated a significant intervention effect (F (1,37) = 13.53, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.268). Adjusted post-intervention HbA1c was lower in the intervention group (7.48% vs. 9.34%; adjusted mean difference: -1.86%, 95% CI: -2.89 to -0.84, p < 0.001). All WHOQOL-BREF domains improved significantly within the intervention arm (all p ≤ 0.001), with consistent glycemic benefits across subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based CBT produced clinically meaningful glycemic and QoL improvements, supporting psychosocial care integration into routine diabetes management in crisis-affected settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07779044.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.