Hypo in a hot tub!

[Rosiecarmel]

I've been down in Wales for the past week visiting my non-related second family. One of them has a hot tub so was got my cossie on and jumped in as I'd never been in one before! About half an hour later, my vision was going a bit funny but I put it down to the steam in the tub. I suddenly realised I'd been very quiet and couldn't really join in the conversation.

Got out very slowly as I almost fell. Luckily my friends mum is T2 and on insulin so she knows about hypos and she helped me. I tested sugars, yep, 3.2!

I've never been in a hot tub before. It was 98degrees F. I know being in a hot country cab affect your insulin sensitivity but can hot tubs? I don't think I've ever had that issue in a bath though...

 

[grovesy]

I think you tend to spend more time in hot tub than a normal hot bath! I suspect it was related to the hot tub!

 

[Amigo]

I've been down in Wales for the past week visiting my non-related second family. One of them has a hot tub so was got my cossie on and jumped in as I'd never been in one before! About half an hour later, my vision was going a bit funny but I put it down to the steam in the tub. I suddenly realised I'd been very quiet and couldn't really join in the conversation.

Got out very slowly as I almost fell. Luckily my friends mum is T2 and on insulin so she knows about hypos and she helped me. I tested sugars, yep, 3.2!

I've never been in a hot tub before. It was 98degrees F. I know being in a hot country cab affect your insulin sensitivity but can hot tubs? I don't think I've ever had that issue in a bath though...

Hot tubs do have a tendency towards making us feel a bit light headed if we stay in them too long and they're very hot Rosie. Apparently it's due to vasodilation and sometimes dehydration. When we got a spa bath some years ago I recall being told to limit the time in it because whilst it's relaxing, it can also be draining. That's compounded with diabetes I'd imagine especially if your levels were a little lower before going in.

Personally I'm not a lover of hot tubs because of my immune risks and the the fact that they are bug harbourers! 😱

 

[Sally71]

Heat can make you more insulin sensitive, that's why many people report more hypos and less insulin requirement in hot weather. Therefore it's logical that the heat from a hot tub might have the same effect!

 

[AndBreathe]

I've been down in Wales for the past week visiting my non-related second family. One of them has a hot tub so was got my cossie on and jumped in as I'd never been in one before! About half an hour later, my vision was going a bit funny but I put it down to the steam in the tub. I suddenly realised I'd been very quiet and couldn't really join in the conversation.

Got out very slowly as I almost fell. Luckily my friends mum is T2 and on insulin so she knows about hypos and she helped me. I tested sugars, yep, 3.2!

I've never been in a hot tub before. It was 98degrees F. I know being in a hot country cab affect your insulin sensitivity but can hot tubs? I don't think I've ever had that issue in a bath though...

A while ago there was a paper published (sorry, I don't have the links) which discussed the impact of hot baths.

I know @Brunneria has done some fairly extensive practical "research" on hot tubs, so she may comment at some stage.

 

[Robin]

There was a feature on, I think, Trust me I'm a Doctor, where they got a load of people with diabetes and made them do various things which might or might not reduce their blood sugars. They found that sitting in a hot bath had just as much effect as exercising, for bringing levels down.

 

[Lindarose]

That's interesting Robin. An appealing way to reduce BG's!

 

[Robin]

That's interesting Robin. An appealing way to reduce BG's!

They were advocating it as a way of reducing blood sugars for people who have other health problems and can't exercise. ( the subliminal message being, for those of us who don't, get your walking shoes on!)

 

[Stitch147]

There was a feature on, I think, Trust me I'm a Doctor, where they got a load of people with diabetes and made them do various things which might or might not reduce their blood sugars. They found that sitting in a hot bath had just as much effect as exercising, for bringing levels down.

I'll have to try that one!

 

[trophywench]

Yup - always happens Rosie ! We have one of the beasts and 20 mins is my absolute maximum - and in any case they tell you not to stay in em longer than that in the brochures - if they are a decent manufacturer - and ours is one of the Gold Standard 'Arctic' spas.

NB though - we don't allow swimwear in ours - c**p off the material (including soap and laundry softener scum) bungs the filters up super quickly. We'd rather they worked 100% efficiently, thanks.

 

[stephknits]

Hypo in a hot tub. I know, I know it's really serious - she warbles tunelessly. Happened to me before. Sometimes in those lovely spa places they have signs up warning people with diabetes to be careful in the hot tub as well as sauna and steam room.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

A really hot bath will almost guarantee a hypo for me, so I'm not surprised either, Rosie. I wouldn't dare risk a hot tub!

 

[trophywench]

LOL - I would Dodo - especially with a glass of wine in there with us! Been in it when it's been snowing and been toasty! (It's fine as long as the seats are deep enough to keep your shoulders under)

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

It's being toasty that's the problem, Jenny, it would just make me hypo!

 

[graj0]

Sometimes in those lovely spa places they have signs up warning people with diabetes to be careful in the hot tub as well as sauna and steam room.

Glad you mentioned that, I had a vague memory, you've confirmed that maybe my memory isn't so bad.

 

[Brunneria]

haha! Thanks @AndBreathe

Yes, we have one, and I have indeed done some extensive testing on the effect for both blood glucose and blood pressure - and they both drop significantly during my soak.

I find that the temperature is the most important thing. It goes up to 40 degrees, but if I have 20 mins at that temperature I feel all woozy from dropped bp when I stand up. Definitely not a good thing.

But if I drop the temperature to a gorgeous 38 degrees, I don't have that effect, and can stay in longer than the 20 mins, with no ill effect.

As for blood glucose, it DEFINITELY dips during the soak (usually by around 1mmol/l) but rises again fairly soon afterwards. Presumably it is the insulin resistance lowering aspect someone has mentioned.

One thing to bear in mind with hot tubs is that while they are fab for relaxing, muscle tension and improving circulation, people with neuropathy in say, their feet and legs, should be very careful not to have the water too hot, because of the risk of things like chilblains. Remember when you were a child with frozen feet cos Mum wouldn't let you have any heat in your bedroom? And you ran a hot bath and ended up with red skin and the agony of blood returning to your poor cold toes...? No? Maybe it was just me then.