Are Spas Good for Diabetics? Hot Tub Therapy

According to a study in theNew England Journal of Medicine, that regular spa therapy may help patients with type IIdiabetesthrough the following mechanisms:

• Heat boosts the core temperature of the body, activating metabolism.
• Blood vessels in the skin dilate to release the extra heat absorbed by the body, leading to increased blood flow that has similar effects toexercise.
• Increased blood flow to the muscles may help reduce blood glucose levels as well as insulin requirements.
• Heat exposure may have positive effects onblood pressurein people with type IIdiabetesand lower cardiovascular risk factors.

The Centers for Disease Control andPreventionrecommends that hot tubs be no hotter than 104 F. Also, while there may be potential benefits of spas for people with diabetes, there are also potential risks involved:

• Hot tubs may not be safe for those withdiabetic neuropathy.
• Damage to blood vessels and nerves (a complication of diabetes) can affect the sweat glands, affecting the cooling mechanism of the body, which can lead toheat exhaustionandheatstroke.
• There is an increased risk ofdehydration, to which people with diabetes are especially prone.
• Swallowing contaminated hot tub water can causediarrhea, Legionnaires’ disease (a potentially seriouspneumonia-like lung infection caused by Legionella pneumophila) and hot tubrash(a皮肤感染that affects hair follicles and results in red,itchyskin and pus-filledblisters).
• People with diabetes tend to have less sensitivefeet, which increases the risk ofburns.
• Excessive heat can cause theheartto beat faster, which can be dangerous for people who have underlying heart problems and high blood glucose levels.

之前starting spa therapy with diabetes, consult your doctor and take the following precautions:

• Use the hot tub at the end of the day, after strenuous daily activities are done.
• Avoid being alone in the hot tub.
• Check your glucose levels before getting into the hot tub. If your levels are spiking or dropping, wait until they become normal.
• Make sure the water temperature does not exceed 104 F.
• Make sure the spa is clean and sanitized to prevent the risk ofbacterial infections.
• Exit the tub slowly, as a sudden change in temperature can cause blood pressure to drop too quickly.
• Do not replace spa therapy with other essentialdiabetes treatmentsteps such asdietandexercise.