How Massage Can Naturally Support Healthy Blood Sugar: My Client’s Real-Life Example

Did you know massage therapy can do more than relax tight muscles? It can also support healthy blood sugar levels — and I recently saw this in action right in my studio!

One of my clients came in wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on their arm. This tiny device tracks blood sugar in real-time, minute by minute. After a full massage session focused on stress relief and muscle tension, we checked their monitor together — and their glucose levels had noticeably dropped during the session.

✨ Why is this good?

It means their body shifted from fight-or-flight mode into rest-and-digest mode — where it can naturally regulate blood sugar more efficiently.

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How Does Massage Help Lower Blood Sugar?

Massage isn’t a substitute for medical care, but research shows it can have a meaningful impact on how your body handles glucose:

1️⃣

Reduces Stress Hormones

Massage reduces cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that trigger your liver to release more glucose into your bloodstream. [1]

2️⃣

Boosts Insulin Sensitivity

Relaxation from massage may help your body’s cells respond better to insulin, which moves sugar out of your blood and into your muscles for energy. [2]

3️⃣

Improves Circulation

Increased blood flow helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells — supporting healthier glucose metabolism. [3]

4️⃣

Supports the Nervous System

Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your body’s “rest and digest” mode, which naturally lowers blood sugar and promotes balance. [4]

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What the Research Says

• A 2016 systematic review found massage therapy helped lower fasting blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. [5]

• Another study found that abdominal massage helped regulate insulin and blood glucose in patients with diabetes. [6]

A Word of Caution

Massage can gently lower glucose, which is usually a good thing — but clients who take insulin or other glucose-lowering medications should know this can add to the effect. If you’re managing diabetes, it’s wise to:

• Check your levels before and after your massage

• Have a small snack if needed to keep your blood sugar stable

My Takeaway as a Massage Therapist

Seeing this happen in real-time with my client’s CGM was amazing. It’s a great reminder that massage therapy isn’t just about relaxing muscles — it’s about supporting your whole system.

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If you’re managing stress, blood sugar, or just want to help your body rebalance naturally — massage therapy can be part of your wellness toolkit.

Ready to book your next session? 👉 MassageBook.com/me/danelle-borglin

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References

1. Field T. Massage therapy research review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016.

2. Hernandez-Reif M et al. Massage therapy improves the management of diabetes. Diabetes Spectr. 1998.

3. Islam N. Effects of Massage Therapy on Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2016.

4. Rapaport MH et al. A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Repeated Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Healthy Individuals: A Study of Mechanisms of Stress Reduction. J Altern Complement Med. 2010.

5. Bani Ismail Z et al. The effect of massage therapy on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients: A systematic review. J Diabetes Res. 2016.

6. Nasiri A et al. Effect of Abdominal Massage on Blood Glucose and Insulin Level of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2013.