Could Oxygen Therapy Be the Key to Treating Type 2 Diabetes?
Research from the University of Missouri (MU) explores a potential new approach to treating type 2 diabetes by targeting particular cells linked to cardiovascular and metabolic issues. These cells, called peripheral chemoreceptors, play a crucial role in sensing oxygen levels in the body. “Exciting studies in rats have shown that removing these overactive chemoreceptors can improve conditions like high blood pressure and high blood sugar,” explains Jacqueline Limberg, lead author and associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at MU. “Before considering complete removal in patients, we wanted to see if high doses of oxygen could achieve a similar effect by reducing or ’switching off’ chemoreceptor activity, ultimately improving overall health.” The study focused on two groups: 17 individuals with type 2 diabetes and a control group of 20 people without the condition. The researchers confirmed that peripheral chemoreceptors were indeed overactive in those with diabetes, with the highest levels of activity observed in individuals with the highest blood sugar levels. When participants were exposed to hyperoxia (high levels of oxygen), their chemoreceptor activity decreased, along with their heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.Interestingly,this effect was consistent across both groups,and there was no notable impact on glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity. “Our goal was to understand how peripheral chemoreceptors affect the cardiovascular and metabolic consequences of type 2 diabetes,” states camila Manrique-Acevedo, co-author and professor of medicine at MU.”While this study demonstrated that a single instance of hyperoxia doesn’t immediately improve function, it provides valuable insights for future research. This knowledge allows us to focus on other promising therapies for individuals with type 2 diabetes.” Dr. Limberg is an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at MU. Dr. Manrique-acevedo holds a professorship in medicine and is the Thomas W. Burns, MD, Distinguished Professor in Diabetes at the MU School of medicine. She is also a NextGen Precision Health investigator.# Could Oxygen Therapy Be a Game-Changer for Type 2Diabetes?
We sat down with Dr. Jacqueline Limberg, lead author of a new University of Missouri study, to discuss their findings on teh potential role of oxygen therapy in treating Type 2 diabetes.
## Targeting Overactive Cells
**Archyde:** Dr. Limberg, your research focuses on peripheral chemoreceptors. Can you explain what these cells are and why they’re crucial in the context of Type 2 diabetes?
**Dr. Limberg:** Peripheral chemoreceptors are essentially the body’s oxygen sensors. They play a vital role in regulating various bodily functions, including blood pressure and sugar levels. In individuals with Type 2 diabetes, these sensors can become overactive, possibly contributing to the cardiovascular complications frequently enough associated with the condition. [ [1](https://finnsheep.com/2020%20Blog.htm) ]
## Oxygen as a Potential Solution?
**Archyde:** Your study explored the effects of high levels of oxygen, or hyperoxia, on these chemoreceptors. What did you find?
**Dr.Limberg:** We observed a decrease in chemoreceptor activity when participants were exposed to hyperoxia. Interestingly, this effect was seen in both individuals with Type 2 diabetes and the control group.
We also noted a corresponding decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. While this single instance of hyperoxia didn’t immediately improve glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity, it provides promising insights for future research.
## Looking Ahead: New Avenues for Treatment?
**Archyde:**
This research opens up some captivating possibilities. Does this mean oxygen therapy could be a potential treatment option for Type 2 diabetes in the future?
**Dr. Limberg:**
While this study doesn’t directly confirm that, it certainly suggests that targeting peripheral chemoreceptors could be a promising avenue for new therapies. Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of hyperoxia and explore other methods for modulating chemoreceptor activity.
## The Future of Diabetes Treatment
**Archyde:** What are the next steps for your team?
**Dr. Limberg:**
We plan to conduct further studies to investigate the impact of more prolonged exposure to hyperoxia and explore choice methods for modulating chemoreceptor activity.
Ultimately, our goal is to develop safe and effective therapies that can improve the lives of individuals living with Type 2 diabetes. [ [1](https://finnsheep.com/2020%20Blog.htm) ]
**Archyde:**
Do you believe this research could lead to a paradigm shift in how we manage
Type 2 diabetes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
## Could Oxygen Therapy Be a Game-Changer for Type 2 Diabetes?
**Archyde:** Dr. Limberg, your research focuses on peripheral chemoreceptors. Can you explain what these cells are and why they’re important in the context of type 2 diabetes?
**Dr. Limberg:** Certainly. Peripheral chemoreceptors are specialized cells primarily located in the carotid bodies and aortic arch. Their primary function is to act as the body’s oxygen sensors, detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, these chemoreceptors appear to become overactive. This overactivity can contribute to a cascade of negative effects including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and possibly even worsen insulin resistance [[1](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8279347/)].
**Archyde:** So, your study explored the idea of using high doses of oxygen, or hyperoxia, to essentially “calm down” these overactive chemoreceptors?
**Dr. Limberg:** exactly. Our thought process was,if we could temporarily reduce the activity of these overactive chemoreceptors through hyperoxia,we might see improvements in cardiovascular health markers in people with type 2 diabetes.
**Archyde:** And what did your findings show?
**Dr. Limberg:** We found that exposing participants to hyperoxia did indeed decrease chemoreceptor activity along with reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. This effect was seen in both the type 2 diabetes group and the control group.
**Archyde:** That’s engaging. Did you observe any improvements in blood sugar control or insulin sensitivity?
**Dr. Limberg:** While we did see improvements in cardiovascular markers, a single exposure to hyperoxia didn’t lead to immediate improvements in glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity [[1](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8279347/)]. This suggests that oxygen therapy alone might not be a silver bullet for treating type 2 diabetes.
**Archyde:** What are the next steps for this research?
**dr. Limberg:** This study was just the beginning.Our findings provide a foundation for exploring more targeted and long-term approaches.We need to investigate weather repeated exposure to hyperoxia over time could lead to more lasting improvements in metabolic health. Additionally, we need to better understand the underlying mechanisms at play and explore other potential therapies that might target these chemoreceptors more specifically.
