Hot Tubs Improve A1c, BMI, and Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes

[Northerner]

Frequent hot tub bathing had a positive impact on glycemia, blood pressure, and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes, in the first real-world study to analyze the effect of this type of heat therapy in such individuals.

"The data from our analysis showed that the frequency of hot tub bathing could have beneficial influences on diabetic control, hypertension, and obesity even after adjusting for confounding factors," Hisayuki Katsuyama, MD, told Medscape Medical News.

Katsuyama presented the findings as a poster at the virtual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2020. The study aimed to explore the real-world influence of habitual hot tub bathing on the control of type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors.

"Heat therapy, shown here with hot tub bathing, can be one effective therapeutic option for type 2 diabetes in daily life. An alternative form of heat exposure might be nutrition therapy and exercise," noted Katsuyama, from Kohnodai Hospital, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan.

But Lucy Chambers, PhD, head of research communications at Diabetes UK, was not so enthusiastic about the results.

Hot Tubs Improve A1c, BMI, and Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes

Regular hot tub bathing, or 'heat therapy' may benefit patients with type 2 diabetes shows a study from Japan, where it's common for people to have a hot tub at home and use it several times a week.

www.medscape.com

 

[trophywench]

I can't open Medscape properly, puter has stored my free Log in from years ago and despite regularly deleting cookies, (ie every time I close the internet it's been instructed to automatically delete them) their site, along with WebMD, hasn't.

 

[trophywench]

However - my BG meter has always told me a hot tub reduces my BG PDQ after 15 or so minutes and I've had the hypos to prove it. Then when you read the manual for ours - that says '20 mins max'. Yep.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Saunas and hot tubs usually have those ‘not suitable for people with diabetes’ warnings on them don’t they.

 

[trophywench]

That's why Mike, cos we can pass out and drown if we choose to go in one alone!

 

[mikeyB]

Hot Tubs are a danger to everyone. Bacterial contamination - Legionnaire's disease loves hot water. All sorts of bacteria can tolerate heat as much as we do. It's a lot different to having a bath, where soap is usually involved, which kills most bacteria and viruses.

Mind you, I haven't had a bath since 1996. I prefer to sluice off the sweat and dirt in a shower rather than sitting in it.