Source: Fox News
Summary
Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco have discovered that living at high altitudes may lower the risk of diabetes. A new study found that at high elevations, red blood cells absorb large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as a “sponge” for sugar. This shift also lowers circulating blood sugar, which explains the lower diabetes risk seen in mountain-dwelling populations.
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The advice sounds familiar. High-altitude living has been linked to various health benefits, and now researchers have pinpointed a specific mechanism that may explain the lower diabetes risk. The study’s findings suggest that red blood cells play a crucial role in glucose metabolism, and that this process is altered at high elevations. The researchers have even developed a drug that mimics this high-altitude effect, which reversed high blood sugar in diabetic mice. As with any new discovery, more research is needed to confirm the findings and explore potential applications.
Author: Evan Null
