The Impact of Cold Hydrotherapy Applications on Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Protocol for a Single Group Pre Post Test Study

A BSTRACT Introduction: A chronic metabolic disease called diabetes mellitus is marked by persistently high blood sugar levels, affecting obese individuals with abdominal fat that increase insulin resistance through inflammatory processes and dysregulated adipokines. Hydrotherapy is one of the most widely therapeutic modalities in the prevention and management of various diseases including diabetes. However, there is a lack of literature on either short-term or long-term effect of cold hydrotherapy applications on insulin resistance in patients with diabetes. Hence, we intended to study the impact of cold hydrotherapy applications on insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A single-group pre–post study design will be adopted for this study. All eligible participants with T2DM will be recruited after obtaining informed consent. Participants will receive cold hydrotherapy applications for 4 weeks. Assessments such as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (BP), stress level, quality of sleep (QoS), and quality of life (QoL) will be assessed before and after the intervention period. Discussion: The results of the data analysis will be provided after completing the study. It is possible that cold hydrotherapy applications for 4 weeks may help to reduce insulin resistance, stress, BP, pulse rate (PR) and weight, and improving sleep and QoL in patients with T2DM. Conclusion: The current study’s findings may provide insight into the effect of cold hydrotherapy applications on insulin resistance, stress, BP, PR and weight, and QoS and QoL in patients with T2DM.