In the United States alone over 12 million people are affected by diabetes, so much so that it is the seventh leading cause of death in the nation. Diabetes affects primarily small blood vessels, making it a perfect target for hyperbaric oxygen therapy that has been shown to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and relieve compromised blood flow that in turn helps prevent organ failure that is sometimes seen in patients with diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
As a disease, diabetes affects how the body uses blood sugar, or glucose, which is an important energy source for the cells that make up our body’s muscles and tissues. Glucose is essentially the fuel for the engine that is our body. Regardless of the type of diabetes experienced in a patient, it can lead to levels of glucose in excess that can lead to further associated health issues. It is extremely important to find treatment modalities that can lower the risks associated with this disease.
Diabetes and HBOT
Studies have demonstrated that HBOT may lower overall blood sugar levels in the body and increase cellular sensitivity to both insulin and the reception of glucose by the skeletal muscles. There are also recent studies that found a potential link between HBOT and the regeneration of pancreatic islets of Langerhans which would allow for more production of insulin. A list of demonstrated benefits from various studies linking HBOT to diabetes treatment is shown below:
Improve Blood Chemistry Profile with HBOT
- Improved fasting blood sugar
- Reduced hemoglobin HbA1C levels
- Lipid profiles
Advance Glycemic Control with HBOT
- Increase pancreatic islets of Langerhans, the group of cells that help produce insulin
- Improve sensitivity to insulin
- Improve skeletal muscle reception of glucose
Decreased Cardiovascular Risk with HBOT
- Promotes blood pressure control in the long term
- Reduces the risk of sudden heart attacks due to abnormal heart rhythms
Stimulate Generation of New Blood Vessels and Reduce Inflammation with HBO
- Improve brain function and reduce risk of stroke
- Enhance heart function and reduce risk of heart attack
- Reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, or nephropathy, all complications of diabetes across the body and it’s systems
Enhance Internal/External Healing with HBOT
- Promotes closure of wounds that were previously not healing
- Improve ulcerations
- Reduce risk of amputations
Clinical Study on the Efficacy of HBOT for Diabetic Amputations
A study from 2008 was used to evaluate how effective HBOT was in the arena of decreasing rates of amputation needed for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The study used a total of 184 patients receiving on average 39 HBOT sessions (between an hour and two hours long) six times a week. The patients’ progress was evaluated multiple times at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month mark. In addition to the HBOT sessions, patients received standard treatment for diabetic foot ulcer. After the completion of treatment, 115 patients (62% of the study population) were completely healed, 31 patients (17%) showed no improvements, and 38 patients (21%) had to undergo amputation because of the disease progress. The results of this study show and confirm the efficacy of HBOT in diabetes, particularly in cases of reducing rates of amputation necessary in diabetic foot ulcers.
Taking a look at the benefits demonstrated by the study above as well as those listed prior, HBOT proves itself as a worthy candidate in diabetes treatment. Alongside the healing benefits presented to any individual undergoing HBOT sessions, patients with diabetes are able to help reduce the effects of diabetes on their body by adding oxygen therapy to their tool box against diabetes.
