Learning Self-Massage Tachniques

Diabetes can be life altering for many people. Having to change your diet, take medications, and worry about other health issues is not easy. Even if you were diagnosed years ago and have adjusted to all the necessary changes, it is still something you have to think about and be alert to all the time. In addition to watching your food intake, there are ways to keep your blood glucose levels within the normal range. One of these is to have regular massages. Here are a few of the ways getting a massage can help control your diabetes.

Relaxation

Having a chronic disease like diabetes causes both mental and physical stress. This can cause your hormones to be out of balance. This can create problems with the amount and effects of insulin, which in turn can cause problems with keeping your blood sugar under control. Having a massage can help you to relax and release the stress so you are better able to deal with the disease.

Circulation

Massage therapy is a great way to increase circulation. The better your blood is circulating, the more glucose will be absorbed and used by all the cells in your body. In addition, better circulation will increase the production of insulin while increasing its efficacy. This will reduce the amount of glucose that sits in the blood stream. Excess blood glucose will eventually damage the blood vessels, putting you at risk for high blood pressure and other heart conditions.

Flexibility

Diabetics need to exercise regularly to help maintain a healthy blood sugar level. If you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, getting up and exercising can be difficult. Part of this problem is due to the tautness of the muscles and connective tissue. Massage therapy can relieve this tautness and help muscles become more supple and elastic so they move and stretch easier. This also helps the muscles from feeling sore and tired after exercising. You will be more willing and able to get up and move if you get a massage regularly.

Diabetes is a life-threatening disease that can be controlled so that the threat is reduced. How you deal with the disease and alter your lifestyle has a lot to do with keeping your blood glucose in the normal range. Massage therapy should be a part of your diabetes care program. Not only will it be beneficial to your blood sugar, but it is also a great way to pamper yourself. To learn more about the benefits of massage, contact a spa like Bamboo Leaf.