Can EWOT Help People with Diabetes? Oxygen’s Role in Metabolism

Feb 21 , 2025

Prasanth Vishnu

Can EWOT Help People with Diabetes? Oxygen’s Role in Metabolism

Did you know that around 38.4 million people in the United States have diabetes and around 1.2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes each year?

Surprisingly, out of this 38.4 million, 8.7 million were undiagnosed, underlining the fact that diabetes is a silent epidemic. Diabetes is a chronic condition that happens when your body cannot produce insulin or cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces.

Now, you might have a question: is diabetes reversible?

The short answer is yes.

In the case of Type 2 diabetes, it’s possible to go into remission with lifestyle modifications. However, remission does not mean it’s completely cured. In the case of Type 1 diabetes, as there is no insulin production happening in the body, practically reversing it is not feasible.

In this article, let’s take a look at how regular physical activity can help people with diabetes and what additional benefits Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) offers for diabetics.

Understanding Metabolism

In simple terms, metabolism is the process by which the body converts food and drink we consume into energy. After consuming the food, your body starts to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to release energy. Your body then uses this energy to keep your physiological processes running smoothly.

Did you know that your body utilizes energy in 3 ways?

Resting Energy Expenditure: As the name suggests, this is the energy utilized by your body when you’re resting.
Thermic Effect of Food: Also known as Diet-Induced energy expenditure, this is the energy utilized by your body for digestion.
Activity-Induced Energy Expenditure: This is the energy utilized by your body when you’re engaged in physical activity. The more you are active, the higher the energy expended.

How Diabetes Affects Metabolism?

Now, let’s take a look at how diabetes affects metabolism. You might have probably heard diabetes is a metabolic disorder. But what does that actually mean? It means diabetes directly messes up your body’s ability to release and store energy from the food you consume. This is because if you have diabetes, your body has insulin resistance or inadequate insulin production.

Have you ever thought about how your cells get the energy they need? Well, let me explain. When you consume carbohydrates, your body starts to process it and convert it into glucose. This glucose then moves into your bloodstream and delivers energy to your body cells.

Generally, if blood glucose levels are high, the beta cells in the pancreas release insulin hormone to notify the liver to remove the glucose from the blood and convert it into glycogen. Later, the body can use glycogen. If your blood contains any remaining glucose, insulin converts this into saturated body fat. Note that protein in the consumed food is also broken down into glucose to some extent, but the process is slow compared to that of carbohydrates.

But everything changes if you have diabetes. Your body will be either short of insulin or couldn’t effectively use insulin. Overweight/obese people with either pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes produce more insulin compared to non-diabetic people due to the high body fat-to-muscle ratio. Insulin resistance–the inability of the body to utilize insulin effectively–is the reason behind this.

So, the body will produce more insulin to compensate for this. This extra effort to create more insulin overtaxes the beta cells, and over time, they start to fail.

What happens to the increasing amounts of insulin? The body gradually becomes more resistant to it.

As mentioned before, insulin helps move glucose from your blood into your cells for energy. But with insulin resistance, this process doesn’t work as well, so glucose stays in your blood longer. To compensate, your body makes more insulin, but this takes time, causing blood sugar to spike after meals.

Over time, beta cells get overworked and may slow down, leading to fatigue, hunger, and even more insulin resistance. If you eat more to fight fatigue, extra calories turn into fat, making the cycle worse.

The Role of Oxygen in Metabolism

Did you know oxygen plays a major role in metabolism, facilitating the breakdown of glucose and fats to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – your body’s energy currency? Without enough oxygen, metabolism becomes less efficient, and the body starts relying on the anaerobic path. This results in the accumulation of byproducts, such as lactic acid, causing fatigue.

In people with diabetes, oxygen metabolism is often disrupted due to poor circulation and high blood sugar levels. This can damage blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to cells. Since oxygen is essential for converting glucose into energy, its reduced availability can slow metabolism, increase fatigue, and delay wound healing.

People with diabetes are also prone to hypoxia (low oxygen levels in tissues). This can worsen insulin resistance and inflammation. When cells don’t receive enough oxygen, they rely more on anaerobic metabolism, as mentioned earlier. This increases lactic acid buildup and stresses the body.

Optimizing oxygen delivery to cells and tissues can improve metabolic efficiency and reduce fatigue. This is where Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) kicks in.

Can Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) Help People With Diabetes?

Yes, Exercise with Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) can support metabolic health in diabetic patients. As the name suggests, EWOT involves inhaling higher concentrations of oxygen while exercising. Let’s analyze what EWOT can do for people with diabetes.

Improves Insulin Sensitivity

According to the American Diabetes Association, engaging in regular physical activity can improve your insulin sensitivity, so your muscles can use any available insulin to convert into glucose for energy production. When combined with increased oxygen intake, exercise may improve glucose uptake, reducing blood sugar levels.

Increases ATP Synthesis

By now, you know the importance of oxygen for the production of ATP. By improving oxygen availability, EWOT allows your cells to generate energy more efficiently. This can combat the fatigue and sluggishness often associated with diabetes.

Improves Circulation

Poor circulation is a major concern for diabetics, especially in the extremities. When you engage in EWOT, your blood vessels expand, and circulation improves. This potentially reduces the risk of complications such as neuropathy and slow-healing wounds.

Reduces Chronic Inflammation

Did you know that chronic inflammation can trigger insulin resistance and diabetes-related complications? Oxygen-rich environments help neutralize oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. This can contribute to better metabolic function.

Helps in Healthy Weight Management

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity alone can help shed the extra pounds, but fat oxidation may be further improved when exercise and oxygen are combined. This results in effective weight management.

Better Cardiovascular Health

Having diabetes makes you more susceptible to heart disease. EWOT supports cardiovascular health by improving oxygen delivery, blood circulation, and heart function, reducing inflammation, and lowering blood pressure. This potentially lowers the risk of hypertension, arterial stiffness, and other cardiovascular complications.

While research specifically on EWOT and diabetes is still underway, studies on oxygen supplementation and metabolic health indicate promising results.

A 2018 study has found that oxygen supplementation can significantly improve muscle energy production, helping people with diabetes perform better during exercise.

A 2023 study has shown that inhaling higher concentrations of oxygen could improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes due to the increase in mitochondrial capacity.

Getting Started with EWOT

Planning to incorporate EWOT into your diabetes care routine but still confused about where to start? Here are some tips to help you begin:

Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise regimen, including EWOT, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions.
Begin with light exercises such as walking or cycling while engaging in EWOT.
Keep track of your blood glucose levels to notice how EWOT affects your metabolism and adjust your routine accordingly.
For best results, combine EWOT with a healthy lifestyle. Follow a balanced diet, keep your body well-hydrated, and get adequate sleep.

The Takeaway

Exercise with Oxygen Therapy can fit into your diabetes management journey with its ability to improve insulin sensitivity, blood flow, and energy production. But the benefits don’t stop there— it also reduces inflammation and cardiovascular risks. If you are looking for a complementary approach to managing diabetes alongside your regular treatment plan, EWOT can be a great option that offers you the benefits of the powerful exercise-oxygen duo.