Can I receive patient massages as a diabetic patient?
On this site, diabetes is listed under “contraindications”. This often raises questions. Is anyone with diabetes advised against receiving a massage? No. But caution is necessary.
One of my clients told me that despite having been diagnosed with diabetes on doctor's advice, he had several massages without a single problem. What is wisdom?
Always report that you have diabetes prior to the massage. In the (telephone) preliminary discussion, the joint conclusion can be drawn that a massage is not wise now. And it would be a shame if you come for nothing, so it is better to consult beforehand. I also always recommend to consult with the doctor. In many cases, they will recommend that you receive massages.
Certain forms of massage are indeed not suitable for diabetic patients, for example deep tissue massage or a strong sport massage. But if applied correctly, it mainly has a positive effect: it relaxes, the circulation improves the tissue becomes more elastic. Stress that is often associated with diabetes can also be reduced by massage. When in doubt, you can best choose a soft, sensual massage or a joint massage. With such massages, little pressure is exerted on the muscle and connective tissue.
What does the masseur take into account in diabetic patients?
The effect of a massage for people with diabetes can not be predicted in advance, but there are a number of things that I will take into account.
With a massage, diabetes medication can work faster and people can be overwhelmed by a (too) low blood glucose value during or after the massage. Better blood flow ensures a faster decrease in blood sugar.
If you inject insulin, lipodystrophy often occurs; This is a swelling of the adipose tissue that functions as (unwanted) collection for the injected insulin. The pressure during a strong massage can suddenly release this accumulated stock and you get too much insulin in the blood, which can cause a sudden low blood glucose.
Which massage forms have positive effects for diabetics?
More and more scientific papers describe the benefits of massage therapy for diabetes patients, both Type 1 and Type 2. Relaxation massage can help combat the stress on the body caused by the disease. Improved circulation is important for diabetics who often have disturbed circulation, especially massaging the hands and feet is effective. Foot reflex massage is never harmful and can have a very positive effect.
A massage like Alchemy or Touch is focused on the myofacia (connective tissue). This massage style provides more mobility in the body. This can work against the stiffness and reduced range of motion of many people with diabetes.
So preferably contact the doctor beforehand and report to the masseur that you have diabetes. Then you can discuss this more extensively during the intake interview.
