Heat Therapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Inclusion Criteria: * patient with type 2 diabetes diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) guidelines * serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level between 7 and 10% (53-86 mmol/mol) * signed written informed consent form Exclusion Criteria: * other types of diabetes mellitus * patients with poor glycaemic control or unstable diabetes * patients with known serious comorbidity and/ or with advanced macrovascular complications * active bacterial infection or treatment with antibiotics within 3 weeks * open wounds or skin lesions * history of skin-related conditions or sensitivity to prolonged water immersion or exposure to pool chemicals * severe psychiatric pathology or psychosis * pregnancy or breastfeeding * judgment by medical provider that heat therapy/ hydrotherapy poses an undue burden or risk * participating in other ongoing clinical trials * heat or balneotherapy in the past 3 months * morbid obesity (body mass index \> 40 kg/m2) * steroid treatment * active autoimmune diseases * coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the past 3 months