CHARLOTTE – Last week I talked about trigger finger and that I’ve seen an uptick in clients seeking help with massage. This condition is surprisingly seen a lot in those that have diabetes. In case you don’t know, diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar is too high because your body cannot make enough insulin.  It’s a serious condition and can wreak havoc on your body and quality of life.

I tried to find studies about how massage affects diabetes, either positively or negatively, and they are not documented well. I did find an encouraging article from diabetesjournals.org. They did a loose study where they noticed that children with diabetes who got nightly full body massages from a parent did have improvement in glucose levels. It was also noted that both parents and children’s anxiety/depression levels decreased after the massage. Another loose study was done where the clinicians provided 15 minutes of light massage, breathing instruction and acupressure to their patients which resulted in patients experiencing a reduction in blood glucose, anxiety, headaches, depression, work stress, and anger. Some patients reported they were sleeping better and dealing better with their families.

Although these findings are not done in a trial setting where you have controlled settings and scientifically documented findings, it is encouraging to see that sometimes you just have to look at your clients and ask them how they feel, and note what’s improving. It’s significant to see that touch seems to help with glucose levels, anxiety, and depression.

-Lisa Lane #13098 is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist in Mint Hill. To book an appointment, visit www.ncmassagesanctuary.massagetherapy.com.