Spa treatment of diabetes
Greetings, friends! In this article we will talk about how the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with diabetes in the resort environment, what therapeutic factors and methods are used taking into account the pathogenesis and types of this disease. Diabetes mellitus can be treated and prevented in Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne, Luhacovice, Jachymov, Swieradow Zdroj, Vrnjacka Banja, Druskininkai, and at the famous resort Rogaska Slatina. These are the main resorts that are presented on the portal sanatoriums.com, and to view a complete list of similar resorts you can use the filter by diseases on our website.
Pathogenesis, syndromes and treatments used
Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disease that is expressed by persistent chronic hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative insulin deficiency, which develops under the influence of genetic or exogenous factors. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes - insulin-dependent and type 2 diabetes - insulin-independent. The diseases are accompanied by hyperglycemic, asthenic syndromes and metabolic disorders syndrome. The therapy in the treatment of this disease is aimed at bringing the diet in qualitative and quantitative relation to the physiological one, for each patient individually, depending on the weight of the body and the character of the work performed, with the use of insulin substitute drugs being the main one. The rehabilitation program includes apparatus physiotherapy, diet therapy, physical exercises, and methods involving natural factors: aerotherapy, heliotherapy, mud therapy, balneotherapy, including drinking mineral waters.
Indications and contraindications
It is possible to undergo spa treatment for diabetes mellitus at:
- diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 in the compensation stage without marked acidosis, with the initial manifestation of microangiopathy;
- increased glucose tolerance;
- diabetes concomitantly with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, urinary and cardiovascular systems;
- presence of comorbidities.
Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus can be treated at a resort if the disease is in the compensation stage and there are no pronounced signs of ketosis after inpatient treatment, as well as in the initial manifestations of polyneuropathy. Resorts in the climatic zone of residence with drinking mineral waters are suitable for such patients. Patients with compensated insulin-independent diabetes mellitus and polyneuropathy can also come here, and be treated with mineral chloride-sodium, carbonic and radon waters.
Treatment at the resort is contraindicated in severe forms of diabetes, exhaustion, marked acidosis, precomatose state, diabetes with marked decompensation of metabolic processes, marked glycosuria and glucoseemia, labile form of diabetes, hypoglycemic condition, which is accompanied by rapid loss of consciousness, as well as the inability of the patient to recognize the initial symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Spa treatment for children with diabetes mellitus
Children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus are recommended to undergo treatment at climatic resorts in the area of residence and balneological resorts with drinking mineral waters, if the disease is in the compensation and subcompensation stage, is aggravated by cholecystitis, cholangitis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastritis, biliary and intestinal dyskinesia, as well as angioretinopathy of 1st and 2nd degree and polyneuritis.
Methods of spa treatment for diabetes mellitus
Choosing a resort for a course of treatment, you should consider not only the type, severity, characteristics of diabetes and the state of compensation, but also pay attention to whether you have no complications and whether other organs are not affected. Before going to the spa, it is essential to make a biochemical blood test, ECG, chest X-ray and determine the level of glucose in the blood and urine, in addition, if necessary, make a glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
The treatment of diabetes at the resort is aimed at therapy and prevention of the occurrence of metabolic disorders, complications and related diseases, improving the general condition of the patient and increasing his capacity for work. In addition to spa factors in the treatment of insulin therapy and blood glucose-lowering drugs (if necessary), which patients must be provided at the place of residence.
Thus, the main natural factors used in the treatment of diabetes at the resort are hydrocarbonate and hydrocarbonate-sulfate mineral waters of Karlovy Vary, Yessentuki, Luhacovice, slightly radon waters of the resort Swieradow Zdroj and magnesium waters of Rogaska Slatina resort. Drinking mineral waters with hydrocarbonate is beneficial for diabetes, because they affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, normalize blood insulin activity, reduce hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and increase the action of some enzymes, which increases tissue glucose sensitivity and blood serum lipid spectrum, increase the sensitivity of insulin receptors to insulin, due to which patients may reduce the need for exogenous insulin and blood glucose-lowering drugs. At the same time, tissue lipid metabolism improves and more ATP is produced. Hydrocarbonate ion normalizes the basic acid balance, with mild to moderate severity of diabetes improves carbohydrate metabolism, reduces the amount of glucose in the blood and urine. Intake of such water leads to getting rid of dyspeptic disorders, heartburn and vomiting.
It is proven that diabetic patients have a magnesium deficiency of about 10-20%, so patients are prescribed magnesium mineral waters: first, to refill the magnesium homeostasis reserve, second, to improve metabolic reactions, affect the formation and excretion of bile and increase intestinal motility. Such bottled mineral waters as Donat Mg, Yessentuki № 4, Yessentuki № 17 and Yessentuki-Nova should be drunk by patients even after treatment at the resort.
Medical consultation
My name is Elena Khorosheva, I am the chief doctor of sanatoriums.com, specializing in pediatrician, physiotherapist and balneologist, candidate of medical sciences, practicing since 2004
I personally visit the resorts presented on our website, communicate with doctors and study the treatment bases of spa hotels in order to give you the most comprehensive and useful advice!
Elena Khorosheva
Head doctor of sanatoriums.comAsk our doctor a question
The best effect of spa treatment, which lasts from 10 to 14 months, is achieved by combining a drinking course of treatment with mineral waters and balneological procedures - carbonic, radon and carbonic sulfide baths. Carbon dioxide baths increase the tone of the nervous system, have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, improve metabolism, contribute to the expansion of small arteries, capillaries and increase their number, which is of great importance in the treatment of patients with angiopathy. Dry carbon dioxide baths are good in the treatment and prevention of diabetic microangiopathy and, unlike water, do not cause significant redistribution of circulating blood and have a positive effect on heart function. Radon baths are used to improve blood microcirculation, lower blood glucose levels and normalize the function of the pancreas, they are also effective in the treatment of angiopathy and other complications of diabetes. Hydrogen sulfide baths increase the intensity of carbohydrate metabolism, which leads to lower blood glucose levels.
Mud therapy is prescribed only for 10-15% of patients with diabetes, which is associated with increased activity of the cortical adrenal medulla. It is proved that such changes worsen carbohydrate metabolism, especially in the severe form and uncompensated diabetes mellitus. Physical therapy, on the contrary, has a positive effect, so in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus is widely used phytotherapy, acupuncture, therapeutic exercise and psychotherapy. In patients with concomitant diseases of the digestive system is appointed duodenal probing, gastric lavage, siphon intestinal lavage and microclysters with mineral water. Rectal administration of mineral water in patients with diabetes leads to rapid elimination of ketoacidosis.
The treatment of diabetes mellitus, in addition to blood glucose-lowering drugs, also includes a rational diet. Many spa hotels also include a so-called "diabetes school", which teaches patients how to control the course of their disease, the principles of rational diet and exercise, insulin dosing depending on the level of glycemia and self-monitoring during self-treatment. Such a school exists, for example, in Yessentuki at the spa hotel Kalinin. Spa hotel Kalinin and in Karlovy Vary at the spa hotel Manes.
While under the supervision of highly qualified staff, patients learn to accept their disease, live with it and thus achieve an improvement in their health condition. Treatment in a resort environment makes the course of diabetes mellitus more benign, as it contributes not only to the improvement of metabolic processes, but also to prevent the occurrence of possible complications. In conclusion, we would like to say that dialysis is another important aspect of spa treatment, and we recommend patients who have, for example, diabetic nephropathy, to be treated in the Czech Republic in Marianske Lazne, as there is a dialysis center here.
