Recent studies show that an infrared sauna benefits can potentially help combat diabetes symptoms, but how effective is it?
Based on those same studies, it’s very effective.
Diabetes is a grave medical condition that is becoming more and more common in the country today, with as many as 1 out of 20 Australians living with this disease in 2021. According to the World Health Organisation, the total number of diabetes patients rose from 108 million in 1980 to a staggering 422 million in 2014.
However, the good news– diabetes can be treated with a combination of proper diet, regular exercise, and consistent medication. Infrared sauna benefits can help transition you into that healthier lifestyle.
What is diabetes?
Also known as diabetes mellitus, diabetes is a chronic medical condition that directly affects your insulin production. This disease can occur when your blood sugar is too high, your pancreas only makes little to no insulin, or when your body doesn’t effectively respond to the insulin.
There are several types of diabetes, each with its own severity. Here are the two most common types that can affect all walks of life:
Type 1 diabetes: an autoimmune response causing little or no production of insulin in the pancreas.
This type of diabetes causes your immune system to attack the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. The current reason is unknown.
Type 2 diabetes: This type of diabetes causes your body to either insufficiently produce enough insulin or cause your cells to become insulin resistant, both can lead to rising blood sugar levels.
How do infrared saunas help?
Enhances insulin absorption rate
For people with type-one diabetes, an infrared sauna can help expedite their insulin absorption process.
A study involving eight insulin-dependent patients found that undergoing two 25-minute sauna sessions helped improve insulin absorption rate by up to 110% compared to taking it at room temperature.
Improves insulin sensitivity
Additionally, type-two diabetics benefit from infrared saunas since they solve one of the most common problems they face– poor insulin sensitivity.
A study found out that regular heat therapy helps diabetics produce nitric oxide which increases their insulin sensitivity.
Makes weight management easier
One of the most common physical issues diabetics face is weight gain. Excess body fat can intensify insulin resistance, which can spell trouble for type-two diabetics.
Infrared saunas are proven to be a more affordable way to help make weight management easier, especially if you are not currently able to engage in moderate to heavy exercise.
Heat therapy induces heavy sweating. Not only does heavy sweating 400-600 calories within 30 minutes, but it also activates your heat shock proteins.
Heat shock proteins are a group of proteins designed to help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, which can help you lose excess body fat.
Increases cardiovascular health
Individuals with type-2 diabetes are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases along the way. Luckily, an infrared sauna can help improve the quality of life of people with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
A study conducted in 2019 concluded that infrared saunas when combined with regular exercise and a proper diet, can help increase heart rate and decrease both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels.
High SBP and DBP levels can increase the risk of contracting severe cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and heart failure over time.
For more details, check out our infrared sauna routines for better heart health.
Additional tips
Regular infrared sauna sessions– when combined with regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet– can help treat symptoms of diabetes. However, we highly recommend consulting your doctor first before committing to buying one.
Additionally, while it can certainly help ease some of the symptoms, we want to make it clear that infrared saunas cannot cure diabetes.
Sun Stream Saunas is committed to helping you improve your quality of life, which is why we offer a safer, easier, and more affordable way to that result.
Contact us today and let our sauna models become the catalyst for starting your journey towards a healthier lifestyle!