Study Reveals How High Altitude May Lower Diabetes Risk

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered why people living at high altitudes tend to have lower diabetes rates. In findings published in Cell Metabolism, scientists report that under low-oxygen conditions, red blood cells absorb large amounts of glucose, effectively acting as “glucose sinks.”

The team found that hypoxia triggers red blood cells to alter their metabolism, helping them release oxygen more efficiently while simultaneously reducing circulating blood sugar. Senior author Isha Jain, also affiliated with University of California, San Francisco, said the discovery highlights a previously underappreciated role for red blood cells in glucose regulation.

In mouse models, a drug called HypoxyStat — designed to mimic low-oxygen conditions — reversed high blood sugar levels. Collaborators from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Maryland contributed to the research, which may open new avenues for diabetes treatment.

21-02-2026