• Scientists discover why high altitude protects against diabetes Thin mountain air may fight diabetes by turning red blood cells into sugar sponges. • For years, researchers have observed that people who live at high elevations, where oxygen is scarce, tend to develop diabetes less often than those at sea level. • Although the trend was well documented, the biological explanation behind it was unclear. • Scientists at Gladstone Institutes now say they have identified the reason. • Their research shows that in low oxygen environments, red blood cells begin absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream. • In effect, the cells act like sugar sponges under conditions similar to those found on the world’s tallest mountains.
Article Summaries:
- Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have identified the mechanism behind the lower diabetes rates seen in high‑altitude populations. In low‑oxygen environments, red blood cells switch to a new metabolic mode that absorbs large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as “sugar sponges.” This shift improves oxygen delivery while simultaneously lowering blood sugar levels. Experiments in mice confirmed that hypoxia increases both red‑cell production and glucose uptake, and a drug mimicking this effect reversed diabetes in the animals. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, suggest a novel therapeutic strategy targeting red‑cell glucose metabolism.
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