Hot tub soaking and Type 2 Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. To mark the occasion, we thought it would be timely to remind readers of a hot tub study done to document the positive effects for those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis.

In 1999 The New England Journal of Medicine published a report on the results of a study done with 8 individuals living with adult onset diabetes. The point behind the study was to determine whether hot tub soaking could benefit those living with diabetes that may not be able to regularly exercise.

In the study, led by Dr. Phillip Hooper of the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado, the participants soaked in water up to 104 degrees for 30-minute periods. The users soaked six times per week during the study period, fully immersing their entire body up to the neck. At the end of the study period, the participants discovered they experienced weight loss, as well as a decrease in their blood sugar or glucose levels. In fact, one participant experienced an 18% drop in the insulin needed to regulate glucose level after just 10 days in the study.

Part of the reason for the positive results: regular hot tub use allows the body’s blood vessels to dilate, allowing the body to better use its insulin. Increasing circulation could also help with neuropathy, getting extra heat and circulation exposure to fingers and toes.

If you or someone you know is living with Type 2 Diabetes, it might be time to consider adding a hot tub at home for regular soaks. It could provide an entire new way to help regulate glucose and improve your overall health and sense of well being!

Schedule a test soak today at one of our showrooms. We’ll help you find the perfect hot tub to get you on the road to better health.