Human Embryonic stem cells have gained wide acceptance for the potential benefit of many conditions. Type 1 Diabetes is one of these conditions where this procedure is being tested. However, these stem cells have consistently failed to generate meaningful numbers of mature, functional β cells. Since oxygen is a strong driver of differentiation, researchers of this animal study looked at applying hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a group of rats following transplanted cells and observed an increase in the maturation of these cells, leading to increased insulin production. The future of embryonic stem cells may be to drive the differentiation and maturation of these cell by following the procedure with a course of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy <view study>   Read Less

Currently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a valuable hospital tool for diabetics with chronic non-healing wounds and is a therapy that is reserved for late stages of diabetics. With recent literature supporting the use of HBOT for earlier onset, this new study gives us further hope that hyperbaric oxygen should be used for early stage diabetes and not just reserved for later stages. Here, it was shown that obese, diabetic rats given HBOT enhanced glucose and lipid metabolism in the skeletal muscle. Since obesity runs rampant in the diabetic population, and the concomitant effects of blood sugar elevation damaging the small blood vessels of the body, HBOT may prove as a valuable resource for diabetics, not only for its aid in cardiovascular disease and wound healing support, but for also lowering the levels of blood sugar; thereby, causing less damage in the body <view study> Read Less

A new study has just been published in the journal of Diabetes (July 2012) illustrating the dramatic effects on mice when HBOT was applied. The study follows autoimmune diabetes development in non-obese diabetic mice. The results co-inside with other studies showing benefit for autoimmune diabetes. We now need to look at early intervention for children who are in the midst of developing Type 1 diabetes, and also for those that are at higher risk <view study> Read Less

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is widely used for a variety of diabetes-induced conditions, particularly, but not limited, to wound healing. Its effects on diabetes-induced cataracts is still unclear. A study published in late 2001 in the Journal of Diabetes has given some new insights. They used lower pressures (1.25 ATA) and found that this dosage was able to delay both the development and the progression of diabetes-induced cataracts. <view study> Read Less

Lund University in Sweden has just published a study that will appear in a journal of the British Medical Association next month–February 2011. The aim of this study was to follow 2 groups of Diabetics with chronic foot ulcers. One group was treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the other group was given a placebo (they were put in a hyperbaric chamber but treated with air instead of 100% oxygen). Of important note is that even the air group will effectively be getting more oxygen. Even so, the group that were treated with 100% oxygen scored significantly higher in their physical and mental/emotional health. They reported:

• better social functioning
• better mental health
• better physical health

Overall, the study concluded  that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves long-term health related quality of life <view study> Read Less