The first scientific article from the Hyperbaric Medicine Center of Hospital da Luz Lisboa , led by Diogo Alpuim Costa , addresses the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on insulin resistance, a relevant factor for type 2 diabetes . Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent diseases in modern Western societies like Portugal. Hyperbaric medicine has shown effectiveness in treating difficult-to-heal wounds in diabetic patients through sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. The author's perspective constitutes a relevant additional contribution and may promote the development of innovative clinical research in this field, considering the scarcity of studies and scientific publications addressing this approach. In this context, Diogo Alpuim Costa and the other co-authors conducted an exhaustive literature review and selected 17 studies from 230 publications for final evaluation. These studies indicated that hyperbaric oxygen may contribute to better control of fasting blood glucose, decrease insulin resistance, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines related to insulin resistance. Although these results are promising, the authors emphasize that there are still important gaps in scientific knowledge, particularly regarding the duration of the effect of this complementary treatment and the main molecular mechanisms involved. The specialist from Hospital da Luz points out that, although hyperbaric oxygen shows potential as a complementary treatment for insulin resistance, more rigorous randomized clinical trials are essential to validate its efficacy and safety in this context . The Hyperbaric Medicine Center at Hospital da Luz Lisboa began its activities in 2024, with a multidisciplinary team composed of doctors, nurses, and other professionals, all specialized and experienced in their respective fields. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments take place in a chamber with a capacity for 16 patients, simulating dives of up to 15 meters deep. This process allows for up to five times more dissolved oxygen in the blood compared to conventional administration, according to the adopted therapeutic protocol. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat complications or diseases caused by low oxygenation, such as the following examples : Wounds that do not heal easily, especially when infected (including diabetic foot); Surgical procedures involving flaps or tissue implants that are unsuccessful; In Oncology, particularly in late complications of radiotherapy (at the level of the bladder, rectum, jaw, among other locations); And also in hospital traumatology, neurology, endocrinology, among other medical areas. Treatments with this innovative technology also significantly reduce the recovery time from sports injuries, which is relevant for high-level athletes.
