I’ve been reading a lot lately about glycation. This is nothing new to diabetics. We all know about the hemoglobin A1c test which simply tests the glycation of the hemoglobin in the body. Or in other words, how much glucose has attached itself to those cells. But lately I’ve been reading more about glycation of the blood vessels. This glycation can cause the blood vessel walls to become less elastic. That in turn leads to high blood pressure and all it its associated problems.

Well, as I’ve been imagining my blood vessel walls becoming harder and less flexible, I started thinking of ways to fight it. (Now, of course, the first line of defense is good blood sugar control.) So I decided that what I needed was a way to increase circulation, increase flexibility, and relax. And I came up with the perfect solution: massage therapy. I visit a local spa once a week (oh, how I’d like to go more often!). I get a full body massage. It feels great. But I hope more than feeling great, it helps me in my battle to preserve the blood vessels that I expect to keep me healthy well into my old age.