Abstract
The endocrine and metabolic effects in 17 diabetic patients and healthy controls were examined under hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) of 2 atmospheres absolute for 75 minutes. Plasma glucose, FFA, glycerol, pyruvate, lactate, insulin and glucagon levels were determined during HBO every 15 minutes.
In diabetic patients, plasma glucose and glucagon levels was significantly decreased after initiation of HBO (p<0.05-0.005). There were no significant changes in other plasma metabolites or insulin concentrations.
In healthy controls, plasma lactate levels significantly diminished after start of HBO (p<0.05-0.01). Compared with pre-HBO levels, plasma glucose concentrations were increased and plasma glucagon concentrations were decreased although not significantly. There were no significant changes in other plasma metabolites or insulin concentrations.
These results suggest that under HBO, plasma glucose levels significantly decrease in diabetic patients while they tend to increase in healthy controls. Further investigation, such as insulin sensitivity or gluconeogenesis in liver, is required.
