Altitude Turns Red Blood Cells Into Sugar Sinks, Hinting at Diabetes Treatments
TL;DR
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes found that under low-oxygen conditions, red blood cells absorb large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as a sugar sink and lowering blood sugar, which may explain reduced diabetes risk at high altitudes; a drug mimicking this effect reversed diabetes in mice, suggesting a new therapeutic approach.
Topics:healthhealth-and-medicine#altitude#diabetes#glucose-metabolism#health-and-medicine#hypoxia#red-blood-cells
- Scientists discover why high altitude protects against diabetes ScienceDaily
- Why do people living at high altitudes have better glucose control? The answer was in plain sight Phys.org
- Health Rounds: Link between low oxygen and reduced blood sugar could yield new diabetes treatments marketscreener.com
- Red blood cells directly control blood glucose level BioWorld MedTech
- Link between low oxygen and reduced blood sugar could yield new diabetes treatments ETHealthworld.com
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