A New Self-Management Approach for Diabetes: SELF Massage with Dorothea Atkins

According to the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, 37.3 million people in the US have undiagnosed diabetes, 11.3% of the US population and 28.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. This chronic disease may lead to lower extremity complications that result in disabling foot complications (e.g., ulcers, infection, gangrene, or amputation). Massage of feet and or hands can provide pain relief and improve circulation. Research supports massage can affect insulin absorption. Recent research supports regular self-massage can also enhance circulation, improve mobility, and reduce pain− possibly reducing the debilitating effects of diabetes.

Dorothea Atkins has been a member of AHNA since 1999. She’s a holistic nurse, licensed massage therapist, educator, researcher, and facilitator of holistic self-help approaches for pain management, injury prevention and wellness for over twenty-five years. She received her doctorate in theology from Holos University Graduate Seminary where her focus was Medical Intuition. Her holistic private practice provides self-massage and selfcare education for anyone with chronic musculoskeletal pain.