Itabashi CampusIn a joint study by Senior Staff Okubo and Professor, it was revealed that low blood sugar levels one hour after a glucose load lead to fewer illnesses and a longer lifespan.

On Friday, June 13, 2025, Takayoshi Okubo, Senior Staff Professor of the Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University Graduate School School of Medicine, was a professor at the Department of Diabetes Metabolism and Endocrinology Internal Medicine at the Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University and Tohoku University Hospital Internal Medicine Special Assignment Professor Junta Imai and others. We analyzed data from the glucose tolerance test of the Osako study, which is being conducted on local residents in Osako Town, Iwate Prefecture, and found that low blood sugar levels for one hour after glucose loading are associated with fewer diseases and longer life.

It is known that suppressing the onset of diabetes reduces the risk of death, but it was unclear whether there was a range of blood glucose levels considered "normal" before the onset of diabetes that could lead to a reduced risk of death. The results of this data analysis revealed that even among people diagnosed as normal, the group with blood glucose levels of less than 170 mg/dl one hour after glucose loading had a lower mortality rate than the group with blood glucose levels of 170 mg/dl or higher. Furthermore, it was found that this group had significantly fewer deaths from heart disease and malignant tumors.
This study revealed that there is a range of normal blood sugar levels that can lead to a reduced risk of death, and it is believed that early action to address post-meal blood sugar rises can prevent the onset of heart disease and malignant tumors and extend life expectancy.

The results of this research were published in the online version of PNAS Nexus on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Press release here
For more information about Senior Staff Okubo Professor please click here.
Read the published paper here (in English)

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