diabetes

[Epinions Reviewer.]

What to do when:

working on a client who is diabetic..... clients blood sugar drops, she becomes incoharent, sweating profusely.

client says, give me a mint, I will be fine.

client isn't fine..... therapist runs for a soda.

client is better now. OK, continue with the massage.

Do you continue with the massage? Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[Sariel]

Eeewww, I don't think I'd like that! I have many diabetic clients, but they have it well under control. There are many "brittle diabetics" that really can't keep it controlled, though.

If a client is incoherent, how did she know she needed a mint? (The sweating is an obvious sign, I'm not doubting she was having a reaction.)

I think I would ask her to be in touch with her doctor and get the diabetes under better control. Also ask her to be sure to EAT before her session, not immediately before, but follow her program to control the disease. If it is uncontrollable...I'd ask for physician's instructions regarding massage.

You do have the right of refusal. If you do not feel comfortable continuing a massage, or continuing a client/therapist relationship, you should feel free to say so. I would really hate to do that, but I'd also really hate for someone to have to be taken by ambulance off my table.

 

[castaspella0183]

This client did admit to not eating before hand. She is having issues with her sugar levels fluctuating ALOT. She exercises a lot, watches what she eats but I think pre-menopause is messing things up and the things she does or doesn't eat. My guess would be not eating enough.

After that session, maybe a month later, she accidently took a double shot of insolin and probably would have died if she had been alone. To me that is indicative that something is going on. She is going to the doctor about it though.

I actually emailed a women who teaches about massage and diabetics and she sent me some great info. I will get her permission first but if anyone wants to read it, I can email the files.

 

[mansaf]

I would love to read it! I'm glad you are getting some info from someone experienced with this!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Diabetes

Sharon,

I do hope that most of the bodyworkers here in the forum know that I have Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent). I participate in the industry as a manufacturer and I do get regular massage. I can certainly understand the difficulty for a therapist having to not only be aware of hypoglycemia symptoms, like the sweating, but to know how to counter the reaction. A single mint will not do a whole lot and will only counter a falling blood sugar slightly. Orange juice will counter hypoglycemia fairly quickly as it will absorb through the tongue. Hershey syrup is probably one of the best remedies and in my experience there is nothing that works faster! If you have a client that you know has brittle diabetes, perhaps ask them what their last glucose reading was and when was their last meal. Yes! A person with a falling blood sugar will become a bit disoriented and can become difficult to deal with as denial can set in.

What is difficult is understanding the control the individual has as believe me, it is different for everyone. I where an insulin pump and take it off before a massage, so I do not worry about becoming hypoglycemic as I've eliminated my insulin in-take. Also, and this is more of a peronal thing with me, but be careful calling a person with diabetes a 'diabetic' as it is a label as I am an individual with diabetes, not a 'diabetic'.

Jeff - Sombraman

 

[flameboy]

Thanks, Jeff! That is good information. I guess because most of my clients with diabetes are seniors, that point hadn't occurred to me about the label. Most also have Type 2, though I have a couple with Type 1, so I am less likely to run into the insulin reactions. It has been a few years since I worked in a medical setting and a lot has been learned since then!