Diabetes, or Diabetes Mellitus, is a chronic syndrome that results in the disordered metabolism of carbohydrates and fat. Simply put, people with diabetes are unable to regulate the proper breakdown and use of energies from sugar and fat contained in foods they eat. That inability can lead to serious diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hardening of the arteries.
Diabetes is divided into two major categories: Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 is known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or IDDM. Type 2 is known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or NIDDM. Over 6% of the US population has diabetes and of those 6%, 90% have Type 2. Type 2 Diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 40.
The biggest health risks with Diabetes include unconsciousness and coma from an imbalance of glucose in the blood (the brain uses glucose as it’s energy source), and the injury or destruction of blood vessels, particularly capillaries because of decreased circulation and high blood pressure.
Hydrotherapy has actually proven beneficial for people with Type2 diabetes. In a study published in 1999 by the New England Journal of Medicine, people with Type 2 diabetes were asked to soak in a warm bath for 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week over a three week period. The results were promising: on average, patients’ blood glucose levels dropped by 13%, so patients had an easier time controlling their plasma glucose levels and also their weight. Some even needed smaller doses of insulin to maintain proper sugar balance. In addition, people who were unable to exercise because of their disease reported additional benefits in terms of improved circulation to their skeletal muscles, since warm soaks open capillaries and increase blood flow to muscular tissue.
As a result, hydrotherapy has become a staple home treatment for people with Type 2 Diabetes along with proper diet and exercise. It is also strongly recommended that people over the age of 40 without diabetes start enjoying an ongoing hydrotherapy regiment as a way to mitigate the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as they age. In addition to hydrotherapy, a diet low in simple sugars and saturated fats and a regular exercise routine of that includes 30 minutes of cardio-vascular training just three times a week may significantly lessen the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Always Consult a Health Professional
As with any medical treatment, it is important that patients talk first with their doctors and embark upon home treatments only under their guidance and supervision. Too much hot or cold can cause injury or make issues worse, so its important that a knowledgeable professional help craft a treatment plan that is right for each individual. Once a treatment program has been agreed upon, progress should be monitored and reported back on an ongoing basis so that adjustments can be made as needed to protect the patient’s health and safety.