First, let's answer the question, "What is Diabetes Mellitus?" Many of us already understand that our bodies use the food we eat for energy by digesting and breaking the food down into sugar (or glucose). Then insulin produced by the pancreas helps our cells to absorb the glucose for energy. Diabetes Mellitus occurs if the pancreas cannot make insulin or if the body's cells do not properly utilize the insulin to help absorb the sugar into the cells. If our cells cannot take up the sugar to use as fuel, the sugar remains in the bloodstream causing an elevated blood sugar which can have long-term damaging effects on the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
Type I Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas's insulin-producing cells are destroyed, so these patients are insulin-dependent. Type II Diabetes is the most common type of Diabetes in the US. It occurs when the body cannot make enough insulin or its cells do not respond properly to the insulin to absorb the sugar into the cell. So, these patients are insulin-resistant.
Regardless of the type of Diabetes, it is essential to follow up with your healthcare provider for the appropriate management and treatment. However, did you know that in addition to diet, exercise, and medication to manage Diabetes, massage can also be effective at lowering blood glucose levels?
The systematic review below found that "Massage at an insulin injection site can significantly increase serum insulin action, thereby decreasing blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes."
Further clinical trials need to be conducted to determine if this is the same for type 2 diabetes. The review also found that "Uncontrolled studies suggest that massage may help normalize blood glucose and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy." Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of uncontrolled blood sugars that causes significant nerve pain, numbness, and tingling starting in the toes and fingers that can spread up into the feet and hands. So, if you or a loved one has Diabetes Mellitus, ask your healthcare provider if massage therapy should be considered in addition to your current treatment regimen for possible added benefit to your Diabetes management and symptom control of Diabetic Neuropathy.