Diabetes & Hypoxia

Linking the complexities of both insulin dependent diabetes and high altitude physiology has been one of the many projects of the Institut d'Estudis de Medicina de Muntanya (IEMM), a prestigious mountain medicine research institute based in Barcelona, Catalunya-Spain. With the help of the IDEA 2000 expedition to Aconcagua, IEMM doctors published a study in 2002 based on the experience and data records of expedition members. Results from this study were interesting and confirmed what other high altitude diabetic climbers have found: it appears that insulin needs increase at high altitudes.

In 2005, IDEA 2000 is continuing its work on diabetes and hypoxia (the condition at high altitude where less oxygen is available due to the decreasing partial pressure of oxygen the higher one goes), in tandem with the ISLET 2005 expedition, and funding the first ever study of diabetic climbers in controlled high altitude-like conditions. The first phase of this study is scheduled for June 9-12, 2005 at the state-of-the-art hypobaric chamber at the Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya at Monjuic Park in Barcelona with diabetic members of the ISLET 2005 expedition team. The results of this research will be of significant value to diabetics who visit higher altitudes, for work or pleasure, and to scientists and doctors who have never completely understood the complex interactions between hypoxia and diabetes management.

Effect of acute hypoxia exposure on blood glucose in diabetic subjects

Goals
To determine the effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose and several counter regulatory hormones in diabetic alpinists at rest (also comparison to similar non-diabetic group, budget allowing). Six diabetic alpinists using a variety of diabetes management therapies (i.e., insulin infusion pump, MDI) will take part and wear continuous glucose sensors during the investigation. First day will be spent in the hypobaric chamber at sea level and the second day in temporary acute hypoxia. Test subjects will be their own "control" and will maintain consistent metabolic conditions and levels of insulin sensitivity between both days in the hypobaric chamber.

Update
On 6/13 got back from the tests in Barcelona which were very tiring and invasive (continuous glucose sensor, 2 blood draws per day, and 24 hour urine samples for 2 days). This will let Conxita's group gather and correlate the base data. General impressions were overall very positive.