As many studies suggest Type 2 diabetes is one of the biggest health crisis of our time and most people are thought to be unaware they have the condition – which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
According to experts, around 90% of those diagnosed have Type 2 diabates linked to unhealthy lifestyles.
A healthy daily diet and staying active can help control your blood sugar levels.
Now, a study, led by Dr. Steve Faulkner, a post-doctoral research associate, says that taking a bath can help reduce peak blood sugar levels by 10 percent.
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The results of the study also highlighted that energy expenditure levels can be enhanced by 80 percent, burning 126 calories per hour – being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
The study aimed to find out whether there were any alternatives to exercising which could help people maintain better blood sugar levels.
The doctor said:
We discovered the participants who bathed had, on average, 10 per cent lower peak glucose levels in comparison to the exercise, which was completely unexpected.
They compared an hour-long hot bath with the same period of cycling.
He further added:
The amount our blood sugar rises after a meal is one of the risk markers for things like developing type 2 diabetes, so keeping it down can be good for our health.
We think the reason is that the bath may encourage the release of heat shock proteins, which may help lower blood sugar levels by improving glucose uptake controlled by insulin.
However, although these findings are interesting, we would always encourage increased physical activity and exercise as the best way to maintain good health.
The research included 10 sedentary males who were carrying glucose monitors to note changes in their blood sugar levels and soaked in a 40C bath.
Next time, the participants cycled at an intensity that increased their body temperature by 1C.
The rise in energy burning for bathing was nowhere near as high as it was for exercise, but the bath did result in an 80 percent increase.
Participants were also shown to burn on average 126 calories per hour when they bathed, which is approximately equivalent to a 25 to 30 minute walk.
Overall, the research suggested passive heating, such as a bath, can increase the rate people burn calories and therefore may help to reduce blood sugar spikes after eating.
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