What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed data from 77 diabetic patients undergoing 1,825 hyperbaric oxygen treatments to assess its effect on blood glucose levels.
What They Found
Blood glucose levels decreased in 75.4% of treatments, with a median drop of 25 mg/dL. A greater percentage of treatments for type 2 diabetes patients (77.5%) showed a decrease compared to type 1 patients (51.5%). Only 0.2% of treatments resulted in post-treatment hypoglycemia below 70 mg/dL, and no patients experienced severe side effects.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian diabetic patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be aware that their blood glucose levels may decrease significantly during treatment. Close monitoring of blood glucose is advisable to prevent hypoglycemia, especially for those on insulin.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada nor involved Canadian participants or institutions.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective review, this study's findings are limited by its design and reliance on existing data, which may not account for all confounding factors.