title: [The influence of single immersion in Dead Sea water on glucose, insulin, cortisol and C-peptide levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bathing in sweet or mineral water can induce significant physiological changes in several body systems including the endocrine system. To date, there have only been a small number of reports that balneology can reduce blood sugar Levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM].
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of a single immersion in sweet or mineral water on blood glucose, insulin, cortisol and c-peptide levels in patients with type 2 DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with type 2 DM and six healthy volunteers were immersed in water twice, with an interval of two weeks in between immersions. The first immersion was in Dead Sea water and the second in sweet water. In both cases the water was warmed to a temperature of 35 degrees C and the bath continued for 20 minutes. Three blood samples were taken from each of the participants at every immersion. The first sample was taken just prior to the start of immersion, the second sample was taken directly at the end of immersion, and the third sample, one hour later. In each sample the blood was tested for glucose, insulin, cortisol, and c-peptide Levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction was seen in blood glucose levels among DM patients who were immersed in Dead Sea water. The glucose levels dropped from a base Line level of 163 +/- 32.4 mg/dl prior to immersion, to 151 +/- 28.8 at the end of the immersion, and to 141 +/- 34.6 an hour later. All the differences were statistically significant: baseline to end of immersion (P = 0.006), end of immersion to one hour later (P = 0.024), and baseline to one hour after immersion (P=0.005). The difference in blood glucose was much Less following immersion in sweet water and did not reach statistical significance except between the end of immersion and one hour later. No significant differences were found for insulin, cortisol, and c-peptide levels between DM patients and healthy volunteers following immersion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-time immersion in Dead Sea water reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 DM patients compared to healthy volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Medical student, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
authors.forename: Idit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liberty
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsedek
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harari
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friger
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukenik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001452:Balneology / Q000379:methods*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D008900:Mineral Waters; D006854:Hydrocortisone