I was still a young man when the doctor told me I had Type II diabetes—and honestly, I didn’t believe him. I made him run the test three times. Yep, I had it. And I was mad about it. This wasn’t the kind of club I wanted to join.
Turns out, it’s a big club:
38.4 million people in the U.S.—11.6% of the population—have diabetes.
I may not have liked the diagnosis, but looking back, that was a great day—because I could finally start feeling better. Changing my diet, getting exercise, and taking my meds made a real difference.
At massage therapy school, I discovered something by accident: after just an hour on the table, my blood sugar dropped by as much as thirty points. I’ve since learned that many others have experienced the same thing.
A 2019 review of multiple studies concluded that massage can improve the health of people with diabetes. It may help:
- Lower blood sugar
- Reduce A1C levels
- Ease nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy)
- Help heal diabetic foot ulcers
More research is still needed, but massage is showing promise as a complementary treatment alongside traditional medicine, a balanced diet, and regular exercise.
Just a heads-up: We diabetics always keep an eye on our levels—massage can lower blood sugar, and we don’t want it going too low.
Curious to see if massage could help you feel better? Reach out, and we’ll set up a time for you to try it.
Notes:
Mercer Massage, LLC 