Heat Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes

Study Summary

This study aims to test whether home-based heat therapy (HT) can improve the health of older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D is common in older adults and can lead to severe issues such as heart disease, disability, and early death. While regular exercise is known to help manage T2D, many people with the condition find it difficult to stay active. This study explores HT as a simple, non-invasive treatment that may offer similar benefits. Participants will wear special leg sleeves that deliver heat to their legs for 90 minutes each day at home over 12 weeks. The study\'s primary goal is to assess whether HT treatment at home is feasible and safe to use. We hypotesize that people with diabetes who receive heat therapy will have better blood sugar control, stronger legs, less body fat, and improved ability to walk, along with lower blood pressure. If successful, HT could offer a new option for people with T2D to manage their condition, especially for those who struggle with regular exercise. This research could lead to larger studies and help provide a practical way to improve health and quality of life for older adults with diabetes.

Primary Outcome

A built-in timer inside the pump that is inaccessible to participants will provide one assessment of patient compliance with the therapy. Compliance will be determined by dividing the number of hours of HT recorded use by the required hours. In addition, patients in both groups will receive a logbook to record their treatment sessions.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• DEVICE Sham
• DEVICE Heat therapy

Study Locations (1)