Blood Sugar Control Starts in the Gut [DODGE Diabetes]

There are lots of myths and misunderstandings when it comes to type-2 diabetes.

One of the most common is that a diagnosis boils down to your weight.

But the truth is, developing diabetes ISN’T just a weight issue.

In fact, I’ve had many obese patients who don’t have diabetes… and many optimal weight ones who do.

Every one of us has a personal blood sugar threshold. It’s that line when our pancreas just can’t keep up with the demands of processing the sugar in our blood any longer.

Many lifestyle and genetic factors can influence where this invisible line is.

But for some extra help staying on the right side of it—no matter WHAT you weigh—you WILL need to focus on your gut.

Just probably not in the way you’re thinking…

It turns out that driving down diabetes risk and building up better blood-sugar control could be as simple as working on boosting your gut flora.

Researchers analyzed results from seven previous randomized controlled trials on blood sugar and probiotics for a new study.

The small trials included 460 volunteers with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes when blood sugar is higher than normal). And each confirmed that probiotics play a role in blood sugar control.

Specifically, researchers found the tiny bugs…

• increase the secretion of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), which stimulates insulin production
• help with the regeneration of pancreatic beta cells, which create, store, and release insulin
• enhance pancreatic beta cell function
• increase leptin levels, relieve oxidative stress, and help maintain mitochondrial health

But the probiotic benefits don’t end there.

They also found that two specific strains—Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium—indirectly increase GLP-1 production. And since GLP-1 enhances insulin secretion and makes you feel fuller, you eat less and lose weight.

Plus, the probiotic strain Clostridium butyricum CGMCC0313.1 was shown to help regulate blood sugar and prevent the progression of type 2 diabetes.

Some strains even turned out to be potent anti-inflammatories. This is important since chronic, low-grade inflammation is linked to diabetes development.

Taking a daily probiotic supplement or including probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and sauerkraut in your regular diet can help reverse prediabetes. In fact, these powerful little belly bugs could be the key to avoiding type-2 diabetes altogether.

P.S. Research reveals probiotics can slash pain in patients with osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoporosis, and more. Find out how to use gut bugs to help relieve your OWN pain.

SOURCE:

“The effects of probiotic administration on patients with prediabetes: a meta-analysis and systematic review.” J Transl Med 20, 498 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-022-03695-y