Living at high altitudes may significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, according to new research from the Gladstone Institutes. Scientists have discovered that in low-oxygen environments, red blood cells act like sponges, absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream.
This metabolic shift, triggered by reduced oxygen levels, enhances the efficient delivery of oxygen and simultaneously lowers circulating blood sugar. This mechanism is believed to explain the observed lower diabetes rates among populations residing at higher elevations.
A previous study confirmed that individuals living at altitudes between 1,500-3,500 meters had a substantially lower likelihood of developing diabetes compared to those at sea level, even when accounting for factors like diet, age, and ethnicity.
"Red blood cells represent a hidden compartment of glucose metabolism that has not been appreciated until now," stated senior author Isha Jain, a Gladstone investigator and professor of biochemistry at UC San Francisco. "This discovery could open up entirely new ways to think about controlling blood sugar."
Experiments on mice exposed to thin air showed an almost instantaneous clearing of sugar from their bloodstream after eating, a trait associated with a reduced risk of diabetes. Researchers identified that red blood cells themselves were the primary "glucose sink." Under hypoxic conditions, these cells absorbed significantly more glucose.
The researchers have developed a drug, HypoxyStat, which mimics this high-altitude effect and has shown potential in laboratory tests to reverse high blood sugar in diabetic mice. Further research is planned to confirm these findings across different mouse strains, ages, and sexes.