Hydrotherapy and type 2 diabetes: Effective method for reducing blood sugar levels

Hydrotherapy and type 2 diabetes: Effective method for reducing blood sugar levels

A recent scientific review, published in March 2024, examined the effectiveness of hydrotherapy, also known as water therapy, on blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Hydrotherapy is a form of treatment used in naturopathy for a variety of ailments, and this study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness specifically in lowering blood sugar levels.

This review used a five-stage framework by Arksey and O'Malley to review existing studies examining the use of hydrotherapy in diabetes or its effects on plasma glucose levels. The researchers searched several scientific databases for relevant publications and ultimately chose six studies that met their criteria. These studies used different hydrotherapy interventions, including hot therapies, cold therapies, and a combination of both.

The results of these selected studies showed that hydrotherapy could be an effective method for reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on these findings, the scientists suggest that integrating hydrotherapy treatments into traditional diabetes management could lead to a reduction in blood sugar levels and therefore a reduction in diabetes-related complications.

The potential future prospects of this research could mean a new direction in the treatment of type 2 diabetes by increasing the use of non-drug therapies such as hydrotherapy. This could represent a significant expansion of treatment options for patients while also leading to an improved quality of life.

To make it easier to understand these research results, some basic terms are explained below:

• Hydrotherapie: Eine Behandlungsmethode, die die heilende Wirkung von Wasser nutzt.
• Typ-2-Diabetes: Eine chronische Erkrankung, die durch einen erhöhten Blutzuckerspiegel charakterisiert ist und typischerweise im Erwachsenenalter auftritt.
• Plasmaglukosespiegel: Die Konzentration von Glukose (eine Form von Zucker) im Blut, ein wichtiger Indikator für den Energiestatus des Körpers und die Diabeteskontrolle.
• MeSH (Medical Subject Headings): Ein umfassendes kontrolliertes Vokabular, das zur Indexierung von Artikeln in wissenschaftlichen Datenbanken verwendet wird, um die Suche und das Auffinden von relevanten Publikationen zu erleichtern.

In summary, this study suggests that hydrotherapy may represent a promising additional treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes, particularly in terms of lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the risks of further complications.

Effectiveness of hydrotherapy in regulating blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes

The present study addresses the use and effectiveness of hydrotherapy as an intervention to regulate plasma blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Using Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework, a comprehensive review of the existing literature was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this naturopathic treatment modality.

methodology

The systematic review included studies that examined hydrotherapy as an intervention for the treatment of diabetes or the influence of hydrotherapy on plasma glucose levels. Databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched up to December 20, 2022. The following medical terms and search terms were used: (“diabetes” OR “type 2 diabetes” OR “diabetes mellitus” OR “plasma glucose level”) AND (“hydrotherapy” OR “water therapy” OR “balneotherapy”). Two investigators were independently involved to assess the suitability of the studies for the inclusion criteria. Review articles, abstracts, and articles that included aquatic exercise as an intervention were excluded.

Results

A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, two studies used warm therapies, another two used cold therapy, and the remaining two studies used both warm and cold therapies as interventions. The results of these studies suggest that hydrotherapy can be used as an effective intervention to regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

outlook

Integrating hydrotherapy treatments in combination with conventional management approaches could help lower blood sugar levels and thereby reduce diabetes-related complications. This suggests the potential of hydrotherapy as a complementary treatment option for the management of type 2 diabetes, but requires further research to determine the long-term effects and optimal treatment protocols.

The study highlights the need to consider hydrotherapy as part of a holistic treatment approach for type 2 diabetes and highlights the potential benefits of this naturopathic treatment modality. Further detailed research and randomized control trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base for this intervention.

The full study with all detailed results and discussions can be read at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37183593.