The relationship of spirituality and health outcomes in Black women with type 2 diabetes.

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the relationships between spiritual well-being emotional distress, HbA1c values, and blood pressure levels in a convenience sample of 22 Black women with type 2 diabetes. Results revealed significant inverse correlations between diastolic blood pressure (BP) and both total spiritual well-being (r=-.51, P=.02) and religious well-being (RWB) (r=-.55, P=.01). Women with higher RWB scores tended to have lower diastolic BP, as compared to their counterparts with lower RWB scores (z=2.78, P=.005). Emotional distress was positively related to systolic BP (r=.48, P=.03). These finding suggest that holistic care, addressing the spiritual and emotional dimensions, may foster improved BP levels among Black women with type 2 diabetes, thereby potentially reducing their high risk for secondary complications.