Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when blood glucose or blood sugar levels are too high. This happens when our pancreas can no longer make a hormone called insulin (type 1) or when our body produces pancreas that becomes sensitive to insulin (type 2). The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Periodically, when we often eat the wrong food, it affects how our body converts the food we eat into energy. When diabetes is not properly controlled by diet and medication, it affects other major organs of the body, including the eyes, kidneys, legs and digestive system.Also read – 14 signs and symptoms to identify iron deficiency
Why is diabetes a serious health problem?
While everyone is concerned about the coronavirus epidemic, diabetes has been identified as the true epidemic of the century. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disorder that has become more common over the years. With economic growth, many more people around the world are switching to a more sedentary lifestyle and diets that are high in sugar and processed foods. Also read – Poor lifestyle choices by youngsters during lockdowns lead to increase in TB cases
According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people between the ages of 20 and 79 with diabetes, which was 463 million in 2019, is projected to almost double to 700 million by 2045. Statistics show that while the number of people with diabetes is the highest. North America and the Middle East, South Asia are moving fast with the fastest growth. With rapid urbanization, India is now home to the second largest population of diabetics in the world. One in six diabetics in the world is from India. Also read – World Tuberculosis Day 2022: How serious is tuberculosis bacilli and how they affect the lungs and many other parts of the body
In each case, they have seized it, despite obstacles we can scarcely imagine. ” According to the most recent studies, there is a high probability that improving bowel health can prevent or reverse diabetes by making metabolism more efficient, reducing the risk of inflammation and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Can improving bowel health help reduce the risk of diabetes?
The term “gut microbiome” refers to the billions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in our gut. Our gut microbiome acts as a complete ecosystem that affects our digestion, metabolism, immune system, skin health and even our moods and emotions.
There are both beneficial and harmful bacteria and the balance between them is very delicate. When this balance is disturbed, it creates a condition called dysbiosis which leads to digestive problems like bloating, nausea, constipation and diarrhea as well as skin problems like acne in short term. In the long run, it causes chronic intestinal inflammation that can lead to more than 40 diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.
The large-scale study, conducted at the renowned Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and published in the journal Nature Medicine, found a clear link between certain intestinal microbes and a lower risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It is not clear exactly how intestinal bacteria and the risk of diabetes are related. What is more is that certain intestinal bacteria affect obesity and insulin resistance. Blood sugar levels rise when the body becomes insensitive to insulin.
The number and variety of bacteria in our gut depends on what we choose to eat. When we eat, we not only consume food to provide energy for our daily activities but also nourish the bacteria that live in our gut. There are foods on which good bacteria thrive and which promote the growth of harmful bacteria. Studies have shown that people can reduce their risk of diseases such as diabetes by changing their diet.
If you have a family history of diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can reduce the risk that your genetic blueprint gives you through smarter dietary choices. Thus, by personalizing your gut microbiome and choosing foods rich in healthy and plant-based foods, you can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
The Massachusetts General Hospital study covered more than 1,100 people in the US and the UK and closely examined the links between their diet, microbiome sequence data and the results of hundreds of cardiometabolic blood markers. The study found that people who tended to eat cleaner and ate more vegetables had lower biomarkers for obesity, cardiovascular disease and impaired glucose tolerance.
There are certain species of bacteria, such as Privotela capri and Blastocystis, that help maintain a good blood sugar level after a meal. There are other species of bacteria that are associated with lower markers of inflammation and blood fat levels after a meal.
Researchers believe that intestinal microbiome tests and related data may help determine the risk of cardiometabolic disease in people who do not yet have symptoms. Such gut microbiome tests can give you a snapshot of your gut health and thus give you a timely warning if you have an increased risk of diabetes due to an imbalance in your gut microbiome.
There are other steps you can take to reduce your risk of diabetes
- Check blood sugar level regularly: Check at least every 3 months even if your blood levels are normal. Beware of warning signs like extreme hunger, thirst and urination.
- Eat a healthy diet: Make sure you eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in sugars and refined carbohydrates, such as sweets and snacks, will damage your digestive system.
- Get more exercise: Adopting a more active lifestyle will reduce the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
- Add more probiotic foods to your diet: Add more probiotic foods like yogurt and kefir to your diet. Probiotic foods are nutritious and can enhance the richness and diversity of your gut microbiome.
- Avoid taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary: Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can alter the balance of bacteria in the gut. According to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, at least 30 percent of the antibiotics prescribed in the United States are unnecessary. Take antibiotics only if absolutely necessary.
Recent studies have suggested that intestinal microbes quickly adapt to changes in diet and preparation. With proper guidance and dietary choices after an intestinal microbiome test, you can change your health with an individual diet and reduce your risk of diabetes.
(Inputs by Dr. Surendra K. Chikara – Founder and CEO – Bion)
