Saunas and How They Affect Diabetes

Whether you’re using a sauna as part of your weekly relaxation routine or right after working out, they’re a terrific way to unwind. It’s crucial to understand the potential health effects of a pleasant sauna session, particularly if you have diabetes.

There has been a lot of conflicting information recently about using saunas for diabetics. Saunas are beneficial for diabetes, according to many, but they can also be dangerous, according to others. We’ll examine the effects of saunas on diabetics in this post.

It’s crucial to remember that diabetics should always see their doctors before using a sauna before beginning. It’s also critical to understand the advantages and drawbacks of sauna use for people with diabetes.

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Saunas: What Are They and How Do They Operate?

Wood-paneled rooms, typically heated by electric or wood stoves, are the typical sauna design. An infrared sauna is a different kind of sauna that releases heat that your body absorbs directly. When a sauna has a burner, it usually also has a series of heated rocks that water is poured over. Moisture is released into the air when water is poured over the heated rocks.

A sauna’s maximum temperature depends on where it is located, but research from Columbia University indicates that it can reach anywhere between 160 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit (71 and 93 degrees Celsius).

Furthermore, the humidity inside saunas can vary from 5 to 30 percent. This is one feature that sets saunas apart from steam rooms. Steam rooms feature a 100 percent humidity level and employ moist heat.

Saunas were first utilized in Finland to promote sweating and improve breathing through the use of warm air. Saunas employ dry heat, but they also hold onto some moisture, which helps with relaxation and better breathing.

The advantages of sauna use

The usage of a sauna has numerous advantages, including rest and relaxation following exercise as well as other health advantages. For example, a study published in the journal of the American Heart Association found that patients with congestive heart failure who regularly used a sauna for 15 minutes experienced fewer harmful pre-ventricular contractions than those who did not use the sauna.

Saunas also aid in promoting perspiration and pore opening, both of which help to cleanse the skin. The sauna’s high temperature also encourages blood flow and circulation, which contributes to feeling more energised. Additionally, using a sauna promotes general wellbeing.

Using infrared saunas on a weekly basis was found to reduce the incidence of pain, rage, and sadness in a study including forty-six patients with chronic pain.

Saunas and Diabetes

What effect, then, do saunas have on diabetes? Saunas can be quite helpful, but before using one, make sure you know how it will affect your particular condition. Make sure you always get medical advice before utilizing saunas or other comparable therapies.

There are differing views on saunas and diabetes, so let’s examine what saunas actually do and how they may affect a diabetic in more detail. We need to take into account the physiological impacts that sauna users experience in order to comprehend the effects of saunas on a diabetic.

Saunas’ physiological effects

Because the human body is such a well-regulated system, it adjusts to various external stimuli and situations and seeks to rebalance itself. External factors do, however, affect how our bodies work.

Saunas produce a lot of heat, and when the body is exposed to temperatures this high, the body goes through physiological changes. The body’s first response to this elevated temperature is capillary dilatation.

The heart has to work harder to push blood through the dilated capillaries. Diabetes patients frequently worry about high blood pressure and cardiac problems, thus it is clear that using saunas poses a risk. Furthermore, saunas emit a lot of sweat through the body’s pores, which increases the risk of dehydration. For those with diabetes, dehydration poses a serious risk.

For diabetics, sauna use has a significant effect on the absorption of insulin. For those with diabetes who use saunas, this can lead to a number of concerns. Let’s examine how heat affects the absorption of insulin.

Heat and Absorption of Insulin

Elevated body temperatures and heat have a significant effect on insulin, which in turn affects blood glucose levels. For diabetics, monitoring this is crucial because variations in blood glucose levels might pose serious risks.

A British Medical Journal study found that the rate at which insulin is delivered from the injection site influences blood glucose levels. This indicates that while being at rest slows down the absorption of insulin, activity increases it.

The high temperatures in the sauna enhance blood flow, which in turn increases the rate at which insulin is absorbed because skin blood flow is dependent on outside temperature.

Some of the main effects saunas have on blood glucose and insulin levels are as follows:

Dehydration and excessive sweating: The heat in saunas can be dehydrating and promote excessive perspiration, which lowers blood volume. Reduced blood volume results in elevated blood glucose concentrations, which can cause hyperglycemia.

Hormonal changes: The heat from saunas can also raise levels of growth hormone and glucagon, two hormones that compete with insulin and can cause hyperglycemia.

Dilated blood vessels: As previously noted, heat can dilate blood vessels and enhance insulin absorption, which might result in variations in blood sugar levels and perhaps hypoglycemia.

Dry heat: Because saunas primarily use dry heat, the skin may become parched and may sustain sores. For those with diabetes, these can be quite deadly.

Let’s now examine the effects of saunas on the two forms of diabetes.

Saunas’ impact on Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ mostly in how much insulin is produced and absorbed. Because their bodies are unable to create insulin, people with type 1 diabetes must receive their insulin injections. In contrast, type 2 diabetics continue to produce insulin but experience insulin resistance, which impairs their ability to utilize it efficiently.

Sauna use can be extremely risky for those with type 1 diabetes, whose blood sugar is managed by injections of insulin. They run the danger of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, because of the sauna’s heat and enhanced insulin absorption. For them, this may pose a serious risk.

If a person with type 2 diabetes also injects insulin, they will also encounter similar outcomes. The same is true if they are on drugs that improve insulin absorption.

However, saunas can also help people try to raise their blood glucose levels if they are managing their diabetes with dietary and lifestyle modifications. Doctors advise engaging in moderate physical activity to control blood glucose levels.

Before attempting to utilize saunas to control your blood glucose levels, it is crucial that you speak with your doctor. To prevent any health problems, make sure you also monitor your blood glucose levels and keep hydrated.

Diabetes and infrared saunas

Similar to conventional saunas, infrared saunas should also be used carefully. They carry the same hazards and worries as traditional saunas, as was already indicated, particularly for individuals who do insulin shots. Nonetheless, as previously said, infrared saunas may be an excellent choice for those with type 2 diabetes who are managing their blood glucose levels by dietary and lifestyle modifications.

The heart does not have to work as hard in infrared saunas as they are often cooler than traditional saunas. It also helps with diabetic neuropathy and may be helpful for people with impaired circulation to their lower extremities, such their feet.

Use sparingly

For diabetics to benefit from saunas, temperature, intensity, and duration should all be carefully regulated and used in moderation. You, too, can enjoy sauna use as long as your doctor gives the go-ahead and you use them sparingly.

But it’s crucial for diabetics to remember to drink plenty of water, check their blood sugar, and resupply their bodies with nutrients.

Making Educated Choices with Your Doctor

Make sure you are aware of your diabetes and see your doctor before using a sauna if you have the disease. Watch for symptoms that could raise some red flags. The greatest option for someone with diabetes is to search for a sauna that uses infrared lamps. After using a sauna, make sure you always stay hydrated and give your body back some fluids and minerals.