Hydrotherapy and Diabetes

Warm water combined with buoyancy and massage can be used to help relieve symptoms of many ailments. Some studies show that this method might help improve some of the symptoms of diabetes. This includes poor circulation and slow healing often associated with diabetes.

Poor Circulation

When immersed in warmer water, the blood vessels in the human body dilate, or open up, allowing blood to travel more quickly to parts of the body that need it. This is especially true in the hands and feet, where the smaller blood vessels, or capillaries, are found. By opening up the capillaries and increasing the blood flow in these regions, the feeling of cold, numbness and tingling (neuropathy) associated with diabetes can be alleviated.

This increased circulation also causes an increase in heart rate somewhat similar to exercise. A forty-five minute hydrotherapy session is almost like running a 5000 meter track. This benefit of hydrotherapy is useful in sufferers of Type 2 diabetes whose movement is impaired so they can’t perform normal exercise. When sitting still in swirling hot water, even Type 2 patients can experience several benefits of exercise without jarring their joints or straining their muscles.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported in a study (08-16-1999) regarding the benefits of physical exercise and therapy from the use of hot tubs. As reported, patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were studied using a hot tub 30 minutes a day, 6 days per week. After only 10 days, patients required reduced doses of insulin, lost weight, showed distinct decreases in plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, and benefited from improved sleep and an increased general sense of well-being.

Add all these benefits, with the added comfort of floating in warm water plus the loss of tension and stress that comes with hydrotherapy treatment, and you find a very relevant and enjoyable method of helping to battle some difficulties faced when dealing with diabetes.

When the patient suffers from several ailments together—such as diabetes and aging, diabetes and some type of muscular degeneration, or diabetes combined with a major injury. Hydrotherapy is especially beneficial as the patient can remain passive while experiencing an increased heart rate, increased circulation, and buoyancy for easier, non-impact movement.

Healing

The same is true for the problem of slow healing with diabetes. Increased blood flow helps the healing process. The blood supplies nutrients and removes wastes from the muscles and organs. If circulation is slow or impaired, healing nutrients cannot reach the places that need healing. By improving blood flow, more nutrients reach the cells and toxins are taken away. Add to this healing elements such as Arnica Montana homeopathy or aloe vera and healing can be much improved.

Science has shown that hydrotherapy plays a significant role in the health and wellbeing of people with these challenges. Something as simple as warm water, so easily accessible and available, yet so often overlooked, can make a major difference in the quality of life of someone with this ailment. If you have diabetes, be sure to consult with your doctor before entering a hot tub.