title: Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus, stroke or traumatic brain injury and healthy volunteers: a prospective, crossover, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A decrease in blood glucose levels (BGL) during hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is a well-recognised phenomenon, but studies of this are limited and inconclusive. This study evaluated the effect of HBOT on BGL in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke and healthy volunteers in a prospective, open, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine participants were enrolled and evaluated twice: once during HBOT (90 minutes at 203 kPa), and once during a control session on normobaric air. Sessions were held up to two weeks apart and participants were instructed to eat the same diet. BGL was measured before, during and at the completion of each session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the whole study group, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in BGL in both the HBOT (7.27 ± 3.66 mmol⁻¹ before to 6.71 ± 3.88 mmol ⁻¹ after, P = 0.037) and control (air) sessions (7.43 ± 3.49 mmol L⁻¹ before to 6.71 ± 3.77 mmol L⁻¹ after, P = 0.004). This fall did not differ between the two conditions (P = 0.59). Examining the three groups separately, BGL fell in all three subgroups, but this fall was only statistically significant for the air session in the diabetic group. There were no statistically significant differences in the BGL reduction when HBOT was compared to normobaric air in any of the three subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BGL may decrease during HBOT and accordingly it should be monitored before entering the chamber. However, this decrease in BGL should probably not be attributed to the hyperbaric environment per se.
authors: Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin 70300, Israel, Phone: +972-(0)50-5191-651, Fax: +972-(0)89778359, E-mail: ronitkoren@gmail.com.
authors: Ronit Koren
authors: RK
authors: Peleg
authors: The Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Gregori
authors: G
authors: Fishlev
authors: The Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Yair
authors: Y
authors: Bechor
authors: The Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Bergan
authors: The Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Mony
authors: M
authors: Friedman
authors: Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel, Research and Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Shlomit
authors: S
authors: Koren
authors: Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel, Research and Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin.
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Tirosh
authors: Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, The Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Research and Development Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv.
authors: Shai
authors: S
authors: Efrati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen; blood glucose; blood pressure; heart rate; prospective controlled trial