Besides other indications, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is used as a supplementary treatment of unhealed diabetic ulcers of lower extremities. We examined if the liver function of biotransformation, peroxidation of lipids and concentration of glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols in patients with the type II diabetes would change after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The sample consisted of patients with the type II diabetes treated with insulin. HBO was applied once a day during the five consecutive days. We examined the biological half-life of antipyrine used as a model substance, which is biotransformed in liver. The concentration of antipyrine in serum was determined by gas chromatography. The concentration of malondialdehyde as a product of lipoperoxidation was determined by liquid chromatography. The parameters measured in the sample of patients before the therapy were worse than physiological values. Following the series of HBO, the concentration of glucose significantly dropped, concentration of total cholesterol and triacylglycerols did not change. HBO did not influenced the biotransformation capacity of liver and did not increase further the oxidative stress in patients with the type II diabetes treated with insulin. HBO proved safe under defined conditions.

        Key words: biotransformation, diabetes mellitus, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oxidative stress