#21

I was just watching a video on Mitochondria, and a glucose or fat spike causes mitochondrial fragmentation. This may be why glucose spikes are so unhealthy. They reduce mitochondrial effectiveness.

Reference video at around 36:00

#22

And so the obvious question is, take some xyzagliflozin before sauna? (Will it help clear glucose significantly, and will that be good or remove the positive long-term effects?)
What is your guess?

#23

I sauna 5-7 times per week and see the same spike on my CGM. Generally 180-190F for 20-30 minutes. Have never done a blood draw to confirm it wasn’t a false CGM reading, but I suspect it is real and similar mechanism to high intensity exercise increasing serum glucose. Stress on the body results in surge of glucose output from the liver. It drops rather quickly after getting out of the sauna.

#24

I doubt the readings were correct, and yes, I’d love to see the result if you are up to 200 mg/dL and jump out of the sauna and do a finger stick.

This blog discusses that outside of the temperature range of maximum 113F that these devices give inaccurate readings, and depending on what temperature your sauna is at, this possibly just represents the lack of ability of the device to measure accurately under these conditions.

2 Likes
#25

@DrFraser

I will say when I sauna I wrap the CGM with an ace wrap and put an ice pack above it. The CGM isn’t overheating because when it does the reading is actually dropped.

Next time I put a CGM on I’ll do a finger stick to confirm.

#26

Very interesting - I’ve certainly seen the same type of spike with starting to exercise - the sauna could induce similar. I’m going to wear a CGM again in a week or so, and we have a sauna we are in 1-2 x/ day. I’ll have to see if similar happens with us. As it is an IR sauna, we only run it up to 135 degrees.

1 Like
#27

I see high glucose spikes every time I take a hot bath.
These spikes are real, I confirmed them by finger pricking.
When I drink a bottle of water before or during bathing I don’t have any spikes.

This effect is pretty known. Heat causes dehydration increasing blood glucose by decreasing blood volume. Besides that, hormones like glucagon are being released further increasing glucose levels.

I always drink a lot of water before using the sauna.

2 Likes
#28

I get the same spike with my libre 2 CGM every time I go in the sauna. I do about 190F x 20 min.

#29

If heat causes a drop, maybe it’s the ice causing the spike???