Diabetes & Hyperbaric Treatments

Diabetes affects more than 12 million people and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. With diabetes primarily affecting the small blood vessels, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been demonstrated to stimulate angiogenesis to help ameliorate compromised blood flow and prevent organ failure. Research has shown that HBOT can help in diabetes treatments by lowering blood sugar levels by increasing cellular sensitivity to insulin and skeletal muscle reception of glucose.

Furthermore, recent reports have provided evidence towards linking HBOT to regenerating pancreatic islets of Langerhans, thus potentially producing more insulin. HBOT is often beneficial in treating osteomyelitis and cellulitis, in addition to preventing systemic toxicity and permanent disability. With chronic diabetes, impaired circulation reduces wound healing capability and promotes ulcerations. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen available to ulcerated areas, leading to increased fibroblast activation. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of HBOT for diabetes treatments with the following:

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Decrease Cardiovascular Risk with HBOT

• Promotes Long-Term Blood Pressure Control
• Reduces Risk of Sudden Heart Attack Due to Ventricular Arrhythmias
• Attenuates Metabolic Syndrome

Study: Amputation Rate Decreased with HBOT

A study published in 2008 evaluated the efficacy of HBOT with respect to decreasing amputation rates for patients with diabetic foot ulcer. A total of 184 consecutive patients were treated with HBOT (one hour sessions, six days a week with examinations performed at three, six and 12 month intervals) as an adjunct to standard treatment modalities for diabetic foot ulcer.

Following treatment, 115 (62 percent) were completely healed, 31 (17 percent) showed no improvement and 38 (21 percent) underwent amputation. HBOT’s success was illustrated by the attenuation to hypoxic tissue by the mechanisms of angiogenesis, fibroblast replication, collagen synthesis, revascularization, epithelialization and increased leukocyte bactericidal activity. This study confirmed that HBOT Can help to reduce major amputation rates in diabetic foot ulcers by repairing tissue. This finding is especially noteworthy considering other conventional diabetes treatments had failed.