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 DIABETES PREVENTION AT HIGH ALTITUDE





Ever wonder why people living in the mountains seem to dodge diabetes more often than those closer to sea level? Scientists finally have an answer, and it’s wilder than you might think. It turns out that thin mountain air makes your red blood cells work overtime — not just carrying oxygen, but soaking up sugar from your blood. They're like tiny glucose sponges, keeping your blood sugar in check.

A team at Gladstone Institutes recently figured out how this works. When oxygen is scarce, as it is at high altitudes, your red blood cells flip into a special metabolic mode. Instead of just shuttling oxygen around, they start grabbing extra glucose out of your bloodstream. This helps your body adjust to the low-oxygen environment, but it also slashes blood sugar levels — which might explain why diabetes is less common in people living up in the clouds.

Their research, published in Cell Metabolism, shows that this oxygen-driven switch doesn't just help mountain climbers or people living in high-altitude towns. It could open up new ways to tackle diabetes, no matter where you live.

Dr. Isha Jain, who led the study, says, “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 Gladstone team spent years studying what happens to bodies in low-oxygen conditions (the scientific term is hypoxia). Mice breathing thin air cleared sugar from their blood almost instantly after eating, but when researchers checked the usual organs (muscle, brain, liver), there was no sign of where all that sugar was going. The answer? Red blood cells were quietly doing the heavy lifting, absorbing and using surprising amounts of glucose.

Further experiments confirmed it: under low oxygen, not only do animals make more red blood cells, but each cell gobbles up even more sugar than usual. And there’s more — when oxygen is low, red blood cells use that extra glucose to help release oxygen to tissues, keeping the whole system running smoothly.

What’s especially exciting is how powerful this effect is. Traditionally, red blood cells were seen as passive oxygen carriers. Still, thisresearch shows they can take up a significant portion of the body's sugar, especially when oxygen is in short supply.

If you’re wondering what this means for you, here’s the kicker: the Gladstone team tested a new drug, HypoxyStat, that mimics the effects of high altitude. In diabetic mice, it completely reversed high blood sugar, outshining current medications.

But you don’t need to move to the mountains or wait for a new drug to start taking control of your own health. Exercise and healthy eating both push your body — and your red blood cells — to adapt, improving the way you handle sugar and oxygen. Regular physical activity, especially, can simulate some of the same stressors your body faces at altitude, prompting those red blood cells to get more efficient.

So here’s your call to action: Start making small, consistent changes today. Lace up your sneakers and add a brisk walk or jog to your routine. Swap out sugar-heavy snacks for whole foods that fuel your body. Every step you take helps your body use sugar more efficiently — and might give your red blood cells the push they need to act like those mountain-dwelling glucose sponges.

Remember, the science is clear: you have more control over your health than you might think. The mountains may help, but the biggest changes start with you.

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