Can Gut Bacteria Help Control Blood Sugar in Diabetes?

What you need to know

• A naturally occurring gut bacteria called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii shows promise in helping control blood sugar levels
• Both live bacteria and bacterial extracts were effective at improving blood sugar control in mice with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• The treatments helped lower blood sugar without causing dangerous drops below normal levels

The Growing Challenge of Diabetes

Imagine your body as a car with a faulty fuel gauge - that’s somewhat like what happens in diabetes. Your body struggles to properly measure and use glucose (sugar), its primary fuel source. This condition affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is becoming increasingly common. While there are medications available to help, many have unwanted side effects or become less effective over time. This has researchers looking for new approaches, including investigating the role of beneficial gut bacteria.

The Gut Connection

Recent research has revealed that the trillions of bacteria living in our digestive system (our gut microbiome) play a crucial role in our health, including how our bodies process sugar. One particular bacterial species, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, has caught scientists’ attention. This beneficial bacteria normally makes up 3-5% of a healthy gut microbiome, but its levels are often lower in people with various health conditions, including diabetes.

What the Research Found

Scientists tested both live F. prausnitzii bacteria and extracts made from these bacteria in mice with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The results were promising:

• Both treatments helped lower fasting blood sugar levels
• The mice showed improved ability to handle sugar after meals
• Long-term treatment led to better overall blood sugar control
• Importantly, the treatments didn’t cause blood sugar to drop too low in healthy mice

A Safe and Sustainable Approach

One of the most encouraging findings was that the treatments appeared safe and effective over repeated use. Unlike some diabetes medications that can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), neither the live bacteria nor the bacterial extracts lowered blood sugar below normal levels. This suggests they may work by helping restore normal blood sugar regulation rather than forcing blood sugar down artificially.

What This Means for You

While this research is still in early stages and was conducted in mice, it points to some exciting possibilities:

• New treatment options might become available that work with your body’s natural processes
• These treatments could help prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes
• They might offer an alternative for people who struggle with side effects from current medications
• The bacterial extracts could provide an easier-to-use option compared to live bacteria

Conclusions

• The gut microbiome plays an important role in blood sugar regulation
• F. prausnitzii shows promise as a natural approach to helping control blood sugar levels
• More research is needed, but this could lead to new treatment options for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes