Massage Method for Lowering Blood Sugar in Diabetic Patients

Diabetes is a chronic disease primarily characterized by high blood sugar levels. As an adjunctive therapy, massage can promote blood circulation, relieve stress, and provide certain benefits to diabetic patients, although it cannot directly lower blood glucose.

For diabetic patients, massaging specific acupoints may help alleviate some symptoms caused by high blood sugar. For example, the Bl-20 (Spleen Shu) acupoint, located on the back at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral to the midline. Using the thumb pad to massage this point may help promote insulin secretion, thereby possibly indirectly lowering blood sugar.

Bend the elbow at approximately a right angle, and press the thumb of the other hand into the depression at the end of the elbow crease—this is the LI-11 (Quchi) acupoint. Kneading this point may help alleviate symptoms such as thirst or skin itching caused by high blood sugar, and may also promote metabolism, thereby aiding in lowering blood glucose.

Massage can improve blood circulation, enhance microcirculation, and help increase tissue cell sensitivity to insulin, thus indirectly assisting in blood sugar control. Additionally, regular massage can promote muscle relaxation and enhance glucose utilization by muscles, thereby helping to lower blood sugar levels to some extent.