High Altitude Living May Reduce Diabetes Risk, Study Finds

Researchers discover red blood cells act as 'glucose sponge' in low-oxygen environments.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A new study from the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco has found that living at high altitudes may lower the risk of diabetes. The research reveals that at high elevations, red blood cells begin absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream, acting as a 'sponge' for sugar. This shift in red blood cell metabolism also lowers circulating blood sugar, which researchers say explains the lower diabetes risk seen in mountain-dwelling populations.

Why it matters

This discovery could open up new ways to think about controlling blood sugar and treating diabetes. Previous research has shown that people living at high altitudes are significantly less likely to have diabetes, even after accounting for factors like diet and ethnicity. Understanding the underlying biological mechanisms behind this could lead to new therapies or lifestyle interventions.

The details

The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, examined how red blood cells behave in low-oxygen environments. Researchers found that under hypoxic conditions, the mice produced more red blood cells, and each cell absorbed significantly more glucose than they did in normal conditions. The team even developed a drug, HypoxyStat, that mimics this high-altitude effect and was able to completely reverse high blood sugar in diabetic mice.

  • The study was published on February 24, 2026.

The players

Isha Jain

A Gladstone investigator and professor of biochemistry at UC San Francisco, who was the senior author of the study.

Yolanda Martí-Mateos

A postdoctoral scholar in Jain's lab and the first author of the study.

Gladstone Institutes

A non-profit biomedical research organization in San Francisco that conducted the study.

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What they’re saying

“Red blood cells represent a hidden compartment of glucose metabolism that has not been appreciated until now. This discovery could open up entirely new ways to think about controlling blood sugar.”

— Isha Jain, Gladstone investigator and professor of biochemistry at UC San Francisco (Gladstone Institutes press release)

What’s next

The researchers acknowledged that more research is needed to confirm the findings in other mouse strains and across different age groups and genders. They plan to continue studying how the whole body adapts to changes in oxygen and how these mechanisms could be leveraged to treat a range of conditions.

The takeaway

This study provides important insights into how living at high altitudes may confer protective effects against diabetes by altering red blood cell metabolism. If these findings hold true in humans, it could lead to new strategies for managing blood sugar and treating diabetes, especially for those living in mountainous regions.