Pace University Looking for Patients for Diabetes Study

Pace University’s College of Health Professions (CHP) is looking for participants for a free eight-week study that will examine the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques, such as mediation, yoga and conscious breathing, in adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

The study, funded with a grant from The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, needs 15 participants who are 18 years or older, suffer from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and willing to participate in the eight week program comprised of weekly classes on Tuesday evenings from April 14-June 9 and an all-day retreat on Saturday, May 30.

“While the direct benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction may vary among individuals, we are eager to learn more about its potential to help people effectively manage diabetes and its related stressors,” said Professor Lucille Ferrara, EdD., a nurse practitioner and lead researcher for the study. “Our hope is to measure any potential benefits and understand how these techniques can be effectively utilized to complement traditional remedies.”

Developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979, the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program is a highly respected evidence-based practice that is known and regarded within the health care community. MBSR is offered by over 720 hospitals, medical centers, and clinics around the world – and the medical field continues to learn more about its benefits through ongoing studies and applications of MBSR interventions in various settings.

Type 2 diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2015. Treatment can cost tens of thousands of dollars for an individual as it requires extensive blood work, lab testing, complex medication regimens and frequent visits to a doctor, all of which can be burdensome and stressful to patients and lead to other issues such as anxiety, depression and insomnia, among other ailments.

As part of this study, participants will be provided a yoga mat, healthy snacks and $30 per week for travel to the Pleasantville campus, and have continuous blood glucose monitoring throughout the study.

Information sessions are planned for the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 19: 1-2 pm and 6-7 pm
• Tuesday, March 3: 1-2 pm and 6-7 pm
• Tuesday, March 24: 1-2 pm and 6-7 pm

The information sessions will take place in Gralnick Conference Room, Lienhard Hall, 3rd Floor, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, N.Y.

To learn more, or to see if you qualify for the study, contact Professor Ferrara at 914-773-3137 or email diabetesMBSR@pace.edu.

About the College of Health Professions

Established in 2010, the College of Health Professions (CHP) at Pace University offers a broad range of programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. It is the College's goal to create innovative and complex programs that reflect the changing landscape of the health care system. These programs are designed to prepare graduates for impactful careers in health care practice, health-related research, or as educators, and equip graduates to work in health policy and global health fields. Students in clinical programs receive hands-on training in the College's Interprofessional Center for Health Care Simulation and have the opportunity to apply their developing skills in real-world settings at many of the regions' leading clinical facilities.

The College is currently comprised of several growing and important areas of study, which include Nursing, Physician Assistant, Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Health Science. For more information about CHP, please visit: www.pace.edu/chp or connect with us on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram at @chpatpace.

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and a Law School in White Plains. www.pace.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @PaceUnews or on our website: http://www.pace.edu/news