11 Nov Can I Get a Foot Massage with Type 2 Diabetes?

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you’re probably feeling a little scared, anxious and confused. Living with this kind of disease involves a certain level of stress, however, with a right treatment plan, you will be feeling better soon. If you’ve been wondering if a foot massage is safe for you, now that you are in this condition, sit back, relax and just keep reading because in the text below you will find out.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

The most common type of diabetes is type two, which causes a failure of insulin production in the body. Some of the most common signs of diabetes are extensive urination, extensive thirst, neuropathy, fatigue, lower-limb nerve affectation, and lethargy, but can also be more alarming like heart and vascular conditions, dental disease, kidney disease, vision challenges etc.

If you have been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, this means that your blood sugar is higher than normal because your body doesn’t allow the insulin to work correctly so sugar can’t get into your cells and it stays in your blood.

Luckily, with a right treatment plan, all the symptoms that you are feeling can be quickly reduced, and you can feel a lot better in no time.

How Does Type 2 Diabetes Put the Health of Feet In Risk?

Diabetes is a disease that can lower circulation levels. This can be very dangerous because it slows down the process of cut healing. The longer the cut is open, the more opportunity it gives for an infection to set in, which can easily spread because low circulation levels won’t allow white blood cells from the immune system to respond. Over time, this can lead to more serious medical complications that can arise from a simple injury like a paper cut.

There are many ways to improve your circulation and one of them is our today’s main topic.

Is Foot Massage Safe for Diabetic Patients?

Since you know that diabetes affects nerve endings and circulation, which can harm your feet, it is normal to wonder if a foot massage is safe for you. The answer is simple. Not just that you can get a foot massage, but you should. Foot massage is very recommended to people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes because it increases circulation which is one of the biggest challenges caused by this disease.

Foot massage isn’t something that necessarily has to be done by a professional. You can also practice it at home with a simple foot massager for diabetics to increase circulation to the extremities. Better circulation won’t only speed the process of cut healing, but will also increase the oxygen transport capabilities which will improve the insulin uptake.

This combined with a proper diet makes it possible to limit the damage that can be caused by type 2 diabetes.

Now, you have to keep in mind that everyone responds differently to the stimulation made by a foot massage, so there are some safety concerns that need to be watched for.

Take the following precautions before the massage therapy:

• Consult your doctor and treatment team first
• If you suspect low blood glucose levels stop the massage
• Talk to your masseuse before starting any massage; explain how you treat the disease
• Receive foot massage only from a masseuse experienced with diabetic patients
• Ask your doctor to recommend a foot massager for diabetics
• Check glucose levels an hour or two after receiving a massage
• Don’t get a forceful foot massage

The benefits of a foot massage with diabetes:

• If practiced on regular bases for a month it can help normalize blood glucose levels
• Provides relief for symptoms
• Increases circulation and improves cellular intake of glucose
• Lowers the sensitivity caused by the damage of small nerves in feet
• Both physical and mental relaxation and decreased level of stress and anxiety which is very important for achieving better organ balance
• Reduces symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy
• Helps restore nerve functionality and improves sensation
• Combined with proper diet, it can limit the damage caused by diabetes
• Lowers the heart rate and blood pressure

Studies show that diabetic patients who receive foot massages regularly for a month can, not only lower their glucose levels but also anxiety, depression and anger levels and feel much better mentally immediately after massage.

Besides putting glucose levels in balance, foot massage provides relief for symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy like burning, tingling, pain, itching, restless legs, and loss of reflexes.

Sources:

1. 5 WAYS MASSAGE IMPROVES DIABETES CARE, MASSAGE Magazine
2. Therapeutic Massage, Diabetes Self-Management