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Daft question - hot baths

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melissaf

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Type 1
Daft question for today - Is it true you should avoid hot baths when taking insulin - I love my night time bath and yes its usually pretty hot - I dont understand the connection but someone at work mentioned it ????
 
its something about the temperature of the water making the insulin work faster therefore it could resultin a hypo.
 
Same reason saunas and hot tubs are not recommended. Increased blood flow can lead to increased sensitivity to insulin. Having said that, I've never had a problem with a bath!
 
Hee hee - we actually have a hot tub (ooo get 'er LOL) and many's the time I've had to hop out of it sharpish and drink Lucozade. (the 3 steps are a bit like the descent from Mont Blanc when you're hypo!)
 
Aside from the heat making us more sensitive to insulin I was told it also masks the symptoms of a hypo. I find I also have to take greater care with my feet too.
 
The heat of the water accelerates the speed in which the insulin is absorbed which could result in hypoglycemia and this is why it is not recommended. I find I can have a hot bath and soak for a while but only if sufficient time has passed since my last injection.
 
I'd highlight the difference between short acting and long acting insulins and whether injected before or after a hot bath. The increase in absorption rate is more likely to affect the effects of short acting than long acting. Injecting before a bath means that capillaries dilate (become wider) and blood flow increases during bath, so rate will be increased during that period. Injecting after a bath means capillaries will have dilated.

So, if, say you have a bath before bed, some 3 - 4 hours after your evening meal short acting insulin, then after getting out, dried etc you have your long acting insulin, you are less likely to have a problem. But as always, test before going to sleep.
 
What do they mean 'mask' the symptoms? I still have a fuzzy taste in my mouth and see spots whether I'm up to me ears in hot water or rolling round in the snow.

I mean I spose if your only symptom was breaking out in a cold sweat maybe it could mask it, but in that case perhaps you should just take showers anyway!
 
Hi Jenny, I get very hot, sweaty and dizzy when hypo - also get this when in a hot bath! So if I want a bath I go for a quick one that isn't too hot. I also get wobbly on my feet when hypo and don't notice this in the bath because of the support from the water.
 
I'm glad for that explanation because my son's first every hypo was whilse he was in the bath one evening. It did put him off for a while and he started showering instead. He used to love the bath. Now I understand the theory, he could go back to early morning baths I guess. Thanks!
 
Doesn't stop me having a bath but I often do go low when in or feel it when out of bath, makes me think I might test before going in if a chance I was already low.
 
having a VERY hot bath will affect levels with T1. The heat makes us more sensitive to insulin, so whatever you've got going around your body is likely to make you drop more than it normally would.

agree with the other comment as well that symptoms can sometimes appear the same so it's always worth testing before treating, in case you are just hot!
 
Copepod said:
I'd highlight the difference between short acting and long acting insulins and whether injected before or after a hot bath. The increase in absorption rate is more likely to affect the effects of short acting than long acting. Injecting before a bath means that capillaries dilate (become wider) and blood flow increases during bath, so rate will be increased during that period. Injecting after a bath means capillaries will have dilated.

So, if, say you have a bath before bed, some 3 - 4 hours after your evening meal short acting insulin, then after getting out, dried etc you have your long acting insulin, you are less likely to have a problem. But as always, test before going to sleep.
Click to expand...

I love your explanations...you always make everything fall into place! thank you for clear and simple explanation 🙂
 
Glad to help when I can, Katie / I'mTrying 🙂
 
As I don't have a shower I got to have a bath🙂 But saying that having a shower wouldn't stop me from having a bath..

Sometimes I test before I have a bath if my post-meal bg is been in the 4's then if necessary I may have a jelly baby or two dependant on what my BG to of set any drop I experience having my bath..

Being diabetic doesn't stop you from enjoying a hot bath, just means that you just have to take on board that it might drop your BG and you need to ensure that you address this, pref before the bath so you don't have an hypo..
 
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