Diabetes and Oxygen

Many people with Type II diabetes struggle with fatigue, reduced exercise capacity, and slow recovery from even minor injuries. One underappreciated reason? Poor oxygen delivery to cells. Without enough oxygen, mitochondria—the ‘power plants’ of your cells—can’t work efficiently, setting off a chain reaction of energy loss and oxidative stress.

It is well established that diabetes is associated with poor tissue oxygenation, and this cellular hypoxia can lead to a cascade of events, including mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. This is where novel approaches to improving oxygen delivery become so important. 

A recent randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in PLOS ONE (PMCID: PMC8279347) provides compelling evidence in this area. The study investigated the effects of drinking water stably enriched with oxygen (ELO/Kaqun water) on both mitochondrial function and blood glucose control in adults with Type II diabetes. The results were significant: not only did ELO water raise arterial blood oxygen levels in a preclinical model, but in a human trial, participants who drank the enriched water daily for 12 weeks showed a significant decrease in their HbA1c levels compared to the placebo group. The study’s authors suggest that this improved oxygenation may help support mitochondrial health under metabolic stress caused by hyperglycemia, positioning this as a promising adjuvant therapy. 

These findings are consistent with a growing body of research that links improved oxygenation to better diabetic outcomes. For instance, a study in American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism (PMID: 38536038) found that individuals with Type II diabetes, even without complications, have impaired skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise, which contributes to lower overall fitness. A separate paper in Diabetes Care (PMID: 9069568) demonstrated that tissue oxygenation is directly correlated with glycemic control, and that improving blood glucose levels can reverse this poor oxygenation. The collective evidence from these and other studies reinforces the critical role that proper oxygen delivery plays in managing the metabolic stresses of diabetes and highlights the potential for innovative oxygenation strategies to support cellular health and improve clinical markers like HbA1c.

As research grows, it’s becoming clear that strategies to improve oxygenation—whether through targeted exercise, enhanced hydration, or innovative oxygen-enriched water—could offer meaningful support for metabolic health. While these approaches are not a cure, they represent a promising avenue for improving energy, performance, and overall well-being in people with Type II diabetes. 

We’ll be exploring more about how advanced oxygenation strategies—like oxygen-enriched water and baths—could support people living with Type II diabetes in upcoming posts.