US Edition
Why do people living at high altitudes have better glucose control? The answer was in plain sight
Researchers found red blood cells absorb glucose under low oxygen, lowering diabetes risk and enabling new treatments like HypoxyStat, shown effective in mouse models.
6 Articles
6 Articles
Tibetans, who live in high altitudes exceeding 4,000 meters, are less prone to diabetes. Scientists have discovered the secret: red blood cells, which supply oxygen throughout the body, act like sponges, absorbing glucose in low-oxygen environments. Creating a hypoxic environment within the human body could potentially cure diabetes. Previously, congenital neurological disorders were treated using this method.
Scientists Finally Solved the High Altitude Diabetes Mystery
Red blood cells may hold the secret to fighting diabetes—by soaking up sugar when oxygen runs low. People who live high in the mountains have long been observed to develop diabetes less often than those at sea level. Scientists have known about this pattern for years, but the biological reason behind it has remained unclear. [...]
Why do people living at high altitudes have better glucose control? The answer was in plain sight
In a 2023 paper on hypoxia and glucose metabolism, our lab showed how organisms rewire their metabolism to adapt to low oxygen levels—such as those found at high altitudes. One of the most striking observations from that work was a dramatic drop in circulating blood sugar.
Lower Glucose by Living High
The connection between hypoxia and glucose metabolism has been established, showing that individuals in higher altitudes with lower oxygen levels have lower blood glucose levels. Epidemiological studies show that humans living at higher elevations not only have lower blood glucose levels, but also present with better glucose tolerance and reduced diabetes risk. A research team led by Isha Jain, PhD, at the Gladstone Institutes, Arc Institute, an…
The red blood cells supply our body with oxygen. But apparently their function goes far beyond that: As a study shows, they also play an important role in regulating blood sugar. Especially in case of lack of oxygen, the red blood cells absorb large amounts of glucose and convert it into a molecule that they [...] The article How red blood cells lower blood sugar levels first appeared on wissenschaft.de.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
