Red Blood Cells Found to Naturally Regulate Blood Sugar in Low Oxygen

A new study has uncovered a previously unknown way the body controls blood sugar—through red blood cells. Researchers found that these cells absorb glucose when oxygen levels drop, acting like a natural sponge. The discovery could lead to fresh approaches for managing diabetes and understanding how altitude affects metabolism.

The breakthrough came from a team led by Isha Jain at the Gladstone Institutes, with findings published in Cell Metabolism. Their work revealed that red blood cells change their metabolism under low-oxygen conditions, pulling sugar from the bloodstream. This process, unseen until now, helps explain why people in high-altitude regions—like the Himalayas and Andes—show lower diabetes rates.

Epidemiological studies have long noted that populations in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador have fewer diabetes cases. Factors like diet, physical activity, and metabolic adaptations to thin air were suspected. Jain's research now confirms that red blood cells play a direct role by lowering blood glucose when oxygen is scarce.

In experiments, mice exposed to low-oxygen air showed significantly reduced blood sugar levels. The effect lasted for weeks or even months after they returned to normal conditions. Building on this, Jain's lab developed HypoxyStat, a drug that replicates the oxygen-deprivation response. When tested on diabetic mice, it successfully reversed high blood sugar.

The team stressed that more research is needed. Questions remain about how the body adjusts to oxygen changes and whether similar treatments could work in humans.

The findings highlight red blood cells as a hidden regulator of glucose, offering potential paths for diabetes treatment. HypoxyStat's success in mice suggests future therapies might harness this mechanism. For now, the study deepens understanding of how altitude and oxygen shape metabolism.