Essay Example on Gut Bacteria and Diabetes: Examining the Link

Introduction

There are billions of bacteria's in the human body, with most of them being friendly. They are not only microscopic but also confined to a few well-shielded domains that offer various crucial services to the body. However, there are concerns that the bacteria may get out of balance leading to diseases such as diabetes. Bacteria in the stomach have been linked to causing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Researchers that diabetes may be caused by a change in the kind of bacteria that live in the human body.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

What Scientists Think About Gut Microbiome Influence on Diabetes

Diabetes is a form of the metabolic condition whereby the body is unable to regulate glycemia. Studies conducted by researchers indicate that dietary interventions attenuate changes in the gut microbiota with research showing that diet rich in fiber may induce insulin resistance (Devaraj, Hemarajata & Versalovic, 2013). However, not everyone responds the same way to dietary interventions. Nutritional interventions vary among individuals, even when they eat similar foods. The gut microbiome influences a person's control of blood sugar, with researchers finding that the gut microbiome can assist in predicting how fast one's blood sugar increases as a result of eating a specific food (Curry, 2012). It, in turn, shows that it is possible to control one's blood sugar by modifying their gut microbiome.

Reported Research

Different kinds of research have been conducted on the relationship between gut microbiome and diabetes. Experiments have been conducted on mice. In 2004, research was done by Fredrick Backhed, and he noticed that gnotobiotic mice ( mice born and raised to be germs free) were slimmer than their conventional counterparts (Ruppel Shell, 2015). On transferring the feces of normal mice to germ-free ones, the mice gained weight, and their insulin became less effective in reducing blood sugar content. The researcher then transplanted the bacteria from the intestines of the obese or lean rodents to the guts of the gnotobiotic mice. The mice that gained bacteria from the obese mice gained twice as much weight than those that gained bacteria from lean mice on the same diet. These findings indicate that changes in behavior have led to an increase in the number of diabetes incidents. The composition of bacteria in the body can lessen or worsen insulin resistance in mice, which also holds in humans.

Current Level of Understanding of Gut Microbiome and Diabetes

The current level of understanding about the gut microbiome and diabetes is unclear as there is no clear data on how the two are related. However, more research may lead to a better understanding to assist in fighting diabetes. Patients with diabetes tend to harbor an increase in opportunistic pathogens while reducing butyrate-producing bacteria. The function of the gut microbiome is different in patients with type 2 diabetes, which may alter the course of the disease. Dietary is essential in changing the gut microbiome, which is why nutritional interventions are done for diabetes patients to assist in treating the disease (Gravitz, 2012). Studies indicate that the gut microbiome impacts the immune response of an individual by regulating the passage of antigens to dendritic cells. Diet plays an essential role in shaping the microbiome of individuals, which in turn affects the control of blood sugar levels in the body.

Therapies and Treatment of Diabetes

Therapies and treatment of diabetes are done to keep blood glucose levels close to normal. Measures to control cholesterol levels and blood sugar are part of diabetes treatment as it increases the risk of peripheral artery disease and heart disease. Diabetes patients are expected to take control of their blood sugar through day-to-day care. It involves dietary management, monitoring blood glucose levels, keeping weight, maintaining physical activity. The use of insulin through pumps or injections and monitoring oral medications are also used to treat diabetes (Aydin, Nieuwdorp, & Gerdes, 2018). To help patients manage diabetes, educational programs have been set that emphasizes individualized care. The program is aimed at helping patients to make appropriate and consistent adjustments in their lifestyle and therapy. It is a good thing as it makes patients manage their condition throughout by monitoring their blood sugar levels, weight loss, regular exercise, and healthy eating.

Sensationalizing or grandiose claims

There are sensationalizing claims on therapies using the gut microbiome to treat diabetes, with intestinal microbiota associated with metabolic syndrome. Microbial bacteria are essential for metabolic processes, such as the breakdown of indigestible fibers. In the past decade, evidence has been gathered on how gut microbiome influence diabetes and glycemic control. The coevolution of gut microbiome and humans has created a symbiotic relationship that affects essential physiological functions such as metabolic signaling, energy metabolism, and immune system development (Gebel, 2011). The prevalence of diabetes is associated with changes in the environment. The same environmental factors affect the gut microbiome, although the microbiota is more stable in adults. The variation in the microbiome is high in different individuals. The information on the composition of gut bacteria can then be used to treat and prevent diabetes.

Recommendation

The therapies discussed in this paper can be recommended for patients with diabetes. It is because they are useful in regulating the blood sugar level hence lowering. Gut microbes are known to affect weight, and therefore regular exercise can help prevent one from becoming overweight, this will, in turn, reduce the risk of one getting diabetes (Upadhyaya & Banerjee, 2015). Dietary interventions are also crucial in modifying the kind of gut microbiome in an individual, which reduces the risk of diabetes. Gut microbiome influences metabolism, which may lead to the development of diabetes in individuals. By identifying the kind of gut microbiome that are helpful and those that are harmful, it might be possible to nudge people from diabetes or cure it.

References

Aydin, O., Nieuwdorp, M., & Gerdes, V. (2018). The gut microbiome as a target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Current diabetes reports, 18(8), 55.

Curry, A. (2012). Certain Bacteria Might Make Type 2 More Likely. Retrieved 4 April 2020, from http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2012/nov/certain-bacteria-might-make-type-2-more-likely.html

Devaraj, S., Hemarajata, P., & Versalovic, J. (2013). The human gut microbiome and body metabolism: implications for obesity and diabetes. Clinical chemistry, 59(4), 617-628.

Gebel, E. (2011). Bacteria in the Gut Offer Clues to Diabetes. Retrieved 4 April 2020, from http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2011/feb/bacteria-in-the-gut-offer-clues-to-diabetes.html

Gravitz, L. (2012). Your gut microflora might be aiding and abetting diabetes. Retrieved 4 April 2020, from https://search-proquest-com.vlib.excelsior.edu/docview/1019966728?accountid=134966

Paun, A., Yau, C., & Danska, J. S. (2017). The influence of the microbiome on type 1 diabetes. The Journal of Immunology, 198(2), 590-595.

Ruppel Shell, E. (2015). Artificial Sweeteners Get a Gut Check. Retrieved 4 April 2020, from https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.vlib.excelsior.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=a6223fd9-ae9c-4ed5-9820-db93ec8cc785%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=101458547&db=asn

Upadhyaya, S., & Banerjee, G. (2015). Type 2 diabetes and gut microbiome: at the intersection of known and unknown. Gut microbes, 6(2), 85-92.