A major study looked at different ways to help adults manage type 2 diabetes using behavior changes. The research compared standard behavioral therapy alone with other methods that include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness practices. Results showed that adding these extra tools to standard care worked much better for lowering blood sugar levels.
When adults received standard behavioral therapy by itself, their blood sugar dropped a small amount in the first few months. However, when they also got cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, their blood sugar levels dropped much more over a year. This combination approach helped people keep their blood sugar under control for longer periods.
The study also checked other health measures like blood pressure and good cholesterol levels. Standard behavioral therapy alone helped improve these numbers a bit. But the most important finding was that mixing different behavioral strategies together gave the best results for managing the disease over time.