Diabetics & Massage Therapy

Diabetes, according to Leroith, Taylor and Olefsky (2003) is a disease involving difficulty in the transportation of glucose into the cells of the body either because not enough insulin is produced or because the body's response to insulin is weak. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2004)found that the prevalence of diabetes in the population is approximately 6.3 percent of the population. It was estimated that a total of about 13 million people are diagnosed with diabetes while about 5.2 million have yet to be diagnosed. The CDC study also found that slightly more women than men have the condition but that type 2 diabetes is becoming more common among children and adolescents, particularly in American Indians, African-Americans and Hispanics.

There are two types of Diabetes. The first type (Type 1 diabetes) is said to be caused by an autoimmune disorder involving specialized cells in the pancreas that make insulin, which the immune system attacks. When sufficient cells are destroyed, the person begins to show the symptoms of diabetes and no insulin is produced (American Diabetes Association, 2004). Type 2 diabetes involves the inability of the body to respond properly to insulin or an insufficiency in insulin production (American Diabetes Association).

As to signs and symptoms, the American Diabetes Association (2004) notes the following typical symp

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der a sheet or flannel blanket on a massage table. The massage usually begins with the patient lying supine. The therapist administers massage first to the arms, neck, and head and then progresses to the torso, feet, and legs. The patient then lies prone, and the legs, hips, and back are massaged. Massage lotion or oil may be applied to minimize friction on the skin. Trained massage therapists work in spas, health clubs, private practices, chiropractic offices, physical therapy practices, and hospitals. Physiological Effects of Massage Several studies have documented the relaxing effects of massage. Massage has been demonstrated to reduce muscle tension in both subjective self-reports21 and objective electromyographic testing.22 Relaxation from massage has been demonstrated to be greater than that brought about from rest alone.23 Massage can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, two features of the relaxation response.24 Additionally, massage has been shown to decrease anxiety in a variety of patient populations, including people with diabetes.25û27 These stress-reducing benefits of massage have raised the possibility that massage may be of benefit to people with diabetes by inducing the relaxation response, thereby
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Approximate Word count = 9399
Approximate Pages = 38 (250 words per page)

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