Follow Your “Gut Feeling” to Reduce Diabetes Risk

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted July 17, 2024

It seems like every day we learn something new about the incredible influence our gut has on our overall health.

From mood to immunity, and even to how well we sleep, the community of microbes in our digestive tract is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

So, it should come as no surprise that researchers have uncovered yet another way our gut health impacts our well-being.

This time, it’s all about diabetes.

A groundbreaking new study revealed that the microscopic inhabitants of your gut could play a significant role in your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston identified specific bacterial strains and viruses that can cause functional changes to the gut microbiome, correlating with an increased risk of developing the disease.

Researchers analyzed data from over 8,000 gut microbiome samples from a diverse group of participants across the United States, China, Israel, and Germany. The goal of the extensive study was to provide a more definitive answer about the link between gut health and diabetes risk.

Well, it turns out that a particular strain of gut bacteria, Prevotella copri or P. copri for short, might be a key player in this diabetes drama. This sneaky little microbe can produce large amounts of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Interestingly, the researchers discovered that people with type 2 diabetes were more likely to have this specific strain of P. copri in their gut.

But the plot thickens. The study also found evidence suggesting that bacteriophages—viruses that only infect bacterial cells—might be driving changes to specific bacterial strains in the gut microbiome, FURTHER increasing diabetes risk.

Think of it as a microscopic game of tag, where these viruses are chasing and infecting certain bacteria, causing them to behave differently and potentially contribute to diabetes risk.

Now, you might be wondering what this means for you. Well, this research opens up exciting new possibilities for both preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

For starters, it reinforces the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.

While we can’t control all the factors that influence our gut health, there ARE steps we can take to nurture our beneficial gut bacteria:

• Eat a diverse diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
• Include fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut in your meals.
• Limit processed foods and artificial sweeteners, which can disrupt your gut balance.
• Stay hydrated and get regular exercise, both of which support a healthy microbiome.

Looking to the future, this research could lead to new targeted treatments for type 2 diabetes. We might even see the development of probiotics specifically designed to counteract the effects of harmful bacterial strains or even therapies that use bacteriophages to modify the gut microbiome in beneficial ways.

Remember, while this research is exciting, it doesn’t mean you should ignore traditional diabetes risk factors like diet, exercise, and family history.

Instead, nurturing your microbiome is simply another tool to potentially reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

P.S. Do THIS to avoid diabetes.

Source:

Mei, Z., Wang, F., Bhosle, A., et al., (2024). Strain-specific gut microbial signatures in type 2 diabetes identified in a cross-cohort analysis of 8,117 metagenomes. Nature Medicine, 1-12.

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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