Benefits of the use of the SG2000 Hydrotherapy SPA in the management of Diabetes Mellitus by Dr. Ebi Ofrey

What is the SG2000?

The SG2000 is an Ultrasonic Bubble bath patented by Grand Sun International from Taiwan as is the 3rd generation machine. It is a form of Hydrotherapy combining traditional Hydrotherapy with Ozone, Far Infrared and Ultrasonic therapy which provides a number of benefits increase of blood circulation and what is known as the exercise effect being among them and which are of great benefit in the prevention of Diabetes and management of Diabetes Mellitus.

In order to fully understand the benefits of the SG2000 in the prevention and management of Diabetes Mellitus it is pertinent that we first understand what Diabetes is, how it presents and how it is currently being managed.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases (accumulation or absence of chemicals produced naturally in the body) characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia (High blood sugar). Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

What causes Diabetes?

Insufficient production of insulin (either absolutely or relative to the body's needs), production of defective insulin (which is uncommon), or the inability of cells to use insulin properly and efficiently leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes. This latter condition affects mostly the cells of muscle and fat tissues, and results in a condition known as "insulin resistance." This is the primary problem in type 2 diabetes. The absolute lack of insulin, usually secondary to a destructive process affecting the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, is the main disorder in type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, there also is a steady decline of these cells that adds to the process of elevated blood sugars. Essentially, if someone is resistant to insulin, the body can, to some degree, increase production of insulin and overcome the level of resistance. After time, if production decreases and insulin cannot be released as vigorously, hyperglycemia develops.

What are Diabetes symptoms?

• The early symptoms of untreated diabetes are related to elevated blood sugar levels, and loss of glucose/sugar in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output and lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption.

• The inability of insulin to perform normally has effects on protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism (Breakdown). Insulin is an anabolic hormone, that is, one that encourages storage of fat and protein.

• A relative or absolute insulin deficiency eventually leads to weight loss despite an increase in appetite.

• Some untreated diabetes patients also complain of fatigue (tiredness), nausea (feeling of wanting to vomit) and vomiting.

• Patients with diabetes are prone to developing infections of the bladder, skin, and vaginal areas because diabetes reduces the body’s natural defense against infections which can also present as multiple recurring boils.

• Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to blurred vision. Extremely elevated glucose levels can lead to lethargy and coma.

How is Diabetes diagnosed?

The fasting blood glucose (sugar) test is the preferred way to diagnose diabetes. It is easy to perform and convenient. After the person has fasted overnight (has not eaten for at least 8 hours), a single sample of blood is drawn and sent to the laboratory for analysis. This can also be done accurately in a doctor's office using a glucose meter (a digital or automatic device that measures the blood sugar from a drop of blood).

• Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).

• Fasting plasma glucose levels of more than 126 mg/dl on two or more tests on different days indicate diabetes.

• A random blood glucose test (a test done at anytime without fasting) can also be used to diagnose diabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes.

What are the acute complications of Diabetes?

1) Severely elevated blood sugar levels due to an actual lack of insulin or a relative deficiency of insulin.

2) Abnormally low blood sugar levels due to too much insulin or other glucose-lowering medications.

Insulin is vital to patients with type 1 diabetes - they cannot live without a source of exogenous insulin (insulin injected into the body). Without insulin, patients with type 1 diabetes develop severely elevated blood sugar levels. This deregulation, results in the process of ketosis and the release of ketones into the blood. Ketones turn the blood acidic, a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Without prompt medical treatment, patients with diabetic ketoacidosis can rapidly go into shock, coma, and even death.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, stress, infection, and medications (such as corticosteroids) can also lead to severely elevated blood sugar levels. Accompanied by dehydration, severe blood sugar elevation in patients with type 2 diabetes can lead to an increase in blood osmolality (hyperosmolar state). This condition can lead to coma (hyperosmolar coma). A hyperosmolar coma usually occurs in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Like diabetic ketoacidosis, a hyperosmolar coma is a medical emergency.

Hypoglycemia means abnormally low blood sugar (glucose). In patients with diabetes, the most common cause of low blood sugar is excessive use of insulin or other glucose-lowering medications, to lower the blood sugar level in diabetic patients in the presence of a delayed or absent meal. When low blood sugar levels occur because of too much insulin, it is called an insulin reaction. Sometimes, low blood sugar can be the result of an insufficient caloric intake or sudden excessive physical exertion. Symptoms are dizziness, confusion, weakness, and tremors.

The treatment of low blood sugar consists of administering a quickly absorbed glucose source. These include glucose containing drinks, such as orange juice, soft drinks (not sugar-free), or glucose tablets in doses of 15-20 grams at a time (for example, the equivalent of half a glass of juice). Even cake frosting applied inside the cheeks can work in a pinch if patient cooperation is difficult. If the individual becomes unconscious, glucagon can be given by intramuscular injection.

What are the chronic complications of Diabetes?

These diabetes complications are related to blood vessel diseases and are generally classified into small vessel disease, such as those involving the eyes, kidneys and nerves (micro vascular disease), and large vessel disease involving the heart and blood vessels (macro vascular disease). Diabetes accelerates hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) of the larger blood vessels, leading to coronary heart disease (angina or heart attack), strokes, and pain in the lower extremities because of lack of blood supply (claudication).

Benefits of SG2000 SPA Hydrotherapy Treatment

Hydrotherapy with the SG2000 hydrotherapy spa is a very good adjunct to the orthodox treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and significantly benefits diabetics for the following reasons:

1) For any organ of the body to perform optimally they need an adequate blood supply without which the cells that make up that organ would not get the required nutrients needed and the waste produced by these organs and not readily evacuated.

In order for this to be possible the circulation needs to be at its optimal level. As stated earlier on there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 which can also be referred to as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in which there is a total absence of insulin production by the pancreas (hence the administration of insulin injections) and Type 2 which is also non as Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus which is not dependent on insulin injections but the administration of oral hypoglycemic agents (i.e. drugs that help in reduction of the glucose or sugar in the blood).

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is usually genetic with an early onset i.e. it manifests in childhood while Type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs more commonly in adulthood. Hydrotherapy with the SG2000 significantly improves blood flow to the pancreas making it function optimally by providing nutrients needed and ensure waste produced by the pancreatic cells are adequately evacuated. This in addition to keeping the pancreas healthy can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and for those that are borderline diabetic help to delay progressive destruction of the pancreatic cells.

2) One of the major predisposing factors or causes of Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increased weight gain and obesity. In addition to diet programmes and life styles changes the next most effective way to manage weight gain and obesity and make people less susceptible to diabetes mellitus is exercise.

15 minutes of hydrotherapy with the SG2000 also produces what is known as an exercise effect equivalent to a 3km jog. This is especially useful for the elderly, those with joint pains and other similar conditions and those with a very busy life style.

By using the SG2000 SPA regularly it enhances weight loss and plays a role in either controlling already existing diabetes mellitus or preventing iminent diabetes mellitus.

3) For those already living with Diabetes mellitus it is important to note the above chronic complications which affect the small vessels and large vessels in the extremities (hands and legs). This result in poor wound healing and numbness in the affected extremities and symptoms of inadequate blood supply in other organs involved e.g. the kidneys, the heart and the brain.

As stated above the SG2000 promotes blood circulation providing enhanced blood supply to all the above and prevent further health deteriorations.

At this point it is important to note that the SG2000 Hydrotherapy should never be used as the sole treatment for diabetes mellitus and should always be used in conjunction with the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor.