Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Living In High Altitudes Could Protect You From Diabetes: Study

Living in the mountains has long been linked with a surprising health advantage. People who reside at high elevations appear less likely to develop <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/diabetes">diabetes</a></span> than those living at sea level. For years, researchers observed this pattern but could not clearly explain why it happens.

Now, scientists say they finally have an answer. According to inputs and direct quotes shared with news agency ANI, low oxygen conditions trigger a unique change inside red blood cells that helps lower blood sugar levels.

At high altitude, oxygen levels are lower than usual. To cope with this shortage, the human body adapts in several ways, including producing more red blood cells.

Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes found that these red blood cells do far more than simply transport oxygen. In low oxygen environments, they begin absorbing unusually large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream.

In simple terms, the cells start behaving like sugar sponges. By pulling glucose out of circulation, they naturally reduce blood sugar levels, which may explain why diabetes occurs less frequently in people living at higher elevations.

Senior author Isha Jain explained the significance of the finding in comments to ANI: “Red blood cells represent a hidden compartment of glucose metabolism that has not been appreciated until now. This discovery could open up entirely new ways to think about controlling blood sugar.”

The discovery emerged from experiments on mice exposed to hypoxia, the scientific term for reduced oxygen levels in the blood. The animals showed a rapid drop in blood glucose after eating, something usually associated with a lower risk of diabetes.

But scientists initially could not find where the sugar was going. They examined major organs such as the liver, brain and muscles but none accounted for the sudden disappearance of glucose.

First author Yolanda Marti Mateos told ANI: “When we gave sugar to the mice in hypoxia, it disappeared from their bloodstream almost instantly. We looked at muscle, brain, liver, all the usual suspects, but nothing in these organs could explain what was happening.”

Using advanced imaging techniques, the team discovered the missing destination. Red blood cells themselves were absorbing and using the glucose.

This was unexpected because red blood cells have traditionally been viewed as passive oxygen carriers rather than active metabolic regulators.

Further experiments showed that not only did the body produce more red blood cells in low oxygen conditions, but each individual cell also consumed more glucose than normal.

Research collaborator Angelo D’Alessandro said, “Red blood cells are usually thought of as passive oxygen carriers. Yet, we found that they can account for a substantial fraction of whole body glucose consumption, especially under hypoxia.”

<h2>Why this helps survival in low oxygen</h2>

The glucose absorbed by red blood cells is not wasted. Instead, it helps generate molecules that improve oxygen delivery to tissues.

This adaptation becomes crucial when oxygen is scarce. The body simultaneously improves oxygen distribution and reduces circulating sugar levels, a combination that may protect against diabetes.

The team also tested a new experimental drug called HypoxyStat that recreates the effects of low oxygen exposure. The pill works by making hemoglobin hold onto oxygen more tightly, mimicking high altitude conditions inside the body.

In diabetic mice, the treatment reversed high blood sugar and performed better than existing therapies.

Jain told ANI, “It opens the door to thinking about diabetes treatment in a fundamentally different way by recruiting red blood cells as glucose sinks.”

Researchers also noted the benefits lasted weeks after animals returned to normal oxygen conditions.

<h2>What this could mean beyond diabetes</h2>

Scientists believe the findings could influence other fields such as exercise science and trauma medicine, where oxygen supply and energy use are closely linked.

For now, the <span>study</span> provides a long sought explanation for the protective effect seen in mountain populations and suggests that future therapies may not target insulin or organs alone but the blood itself.

As Jain concluded in remarks shared with ANI, “This is just the beginning. There’s still so much to learn about how the whole body adapts to changes in oxygen and how we could leverage these mechanisms to treat a range of conditions.”

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Living in the mountains has long been linked with a surprising health advantage. People who reside at high elevations appear less likely to develop diabetes than those living at sea level. For years, researchers observed this pattern but could not clearly explain why it happens.Now, scientists say they finally have an answer. According to inputs and direct quotes shared with news agency ANI, low oxygen conditions trigger a unique change inside red blood cells that helps lower blood sugar levels.How thin air changes the bodyAt high altitude, oxygen levels are lower than usual. To cope with this shortage, the human body adapts in several ways, including producing more red blood cells.Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes found that these red blood cells do far more than simply transport oxygen. In low oxygen environments, they begin absorbing unusually large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream.In simple terms, the cells start behaving like sugar sponges. By pulling glucose out of circulation, they naturally reduce blood sugar levels, which may explain why diabetes occurs less frequently in people living at higher elevations.Senior author Isha Jain explained the significance of the finding in comments to ANI: “Red blood cells represent a hidden compartment of glucose metabolism that has not been appreciated until now. This discovery could open up entirely new ways to think about controlling blood sugar.”The surprising glucose sinkThe discovery emerged from experiments on mice exposed to hypoxia, the scientific term for reduced oxygen levels in the blood. The animals showed a rapid drop in blood glucose after eating, something usually associated with a lower risk of diabetes.But scientists initially could not find where the sugar was going. They examined major organs such as the liver, brain and muscles but none accounted for the sudden disappearance of glucose.First author Yolanda Marti Mateos told ANI: “When we gave sugar to the mice in hypoxia, it disappeared from their bloodstream almost instantly. We looked at muscle, brain, liver, all the usual suspects, but nothing in these organs could explain what was happening.”Using advanced imaging techniques, the team discovered the missing destination. Red blood cells themselves were absorbing and using the glucose.This was unexpected because red blood cells have traditionally been viewed as passive oxygen carriers rather than active metabolic regulators.Further experiments showed that not only did the body produce more red blood cells in low oxygen conditions, but each individual cell also consumed more glucose than normal.Research collaborator Angelo D’Alessandro said, “Red blood cells are usually thought of as passive oxygen carriers. Yet, we found that they can account for a substantial fraction of whole body glucose consumption, especially under hypoxia.”Why this helps survival in low oxygenThe glucose absorbed by red blood cells is not wasted. Instead, it helps generate molecules that improve oxygen delivery to tissues.This adaptation becomes crucial when oxygen is scarce. The body simultaneously improves oxygen distribution and reduces circulating sugar levels, a combination that may protect against diabetes.A possible future treatmentThe team also tested a new experimental drug called HypoxyStat that recreates the effects of low oxygen exposure. The pill works by making hemoglobin hold onto oxygen more tightly, mimicking high altitude conditions inside the body.In diabetic mice, the treatment reversed high blood sugar and performed better than existing therapies.Jain told ANI, “It opens the door to thinking about diabetes treatment in a fundamentally different way by recruiting red blood cells as glucose sinks.”Researchers also noted the benefits lasted weeks after animals returned to normal oxygen conditions.What this could mean beyond diabetesScientists believe the findings could influence other fields such as exercise science and trauma medicine, where oxygen supply and energy use are closely linked.For now, the study provides a long sought explanation for the protective effect seen in mountain populations and suggests that future therapies may not target insulin or organs alone but the blood itself.As Jain concluded in remarks shared with ANI, “This is just the beginning. There’s still so much to learn about how the whole body adapts to changes in oxygen and how we could leverage these mechanisms to treat a range of conditions.”