Research suggests
that two groups
of bacteria that
live in your gut
play key roles in
your overall health.
In the future, they
could lead to
new treatments
and maybe even
diabetes prevention
E
ven when you’re sitting
alone in a room, you’re
completely outnumbered.
Inside your body is a microbiome
made up of trillions of living
organisms that help you fight
disease and process nutrients,
and can also make you sick.
These critters live all over your
body, but the largest microscopic
world is in your gut. Researchers
are working to uncover the
secrets of the gut microbiome,
which may offer promising new
treatments for diabetes.WHAT MAKES
A HEALTHY GUT?
We’re all born with a clean
slate, gut-wise, and start
acquiring microbes at birth.
Everyone’s belly contains
a unique combination of
organisms, carrying a few
hundred of the roughly 1000
known species of microbes.That variation makes it tough
to define a healthy gut, says Dr
Robert Karp, program director
for genomic and microbiome
studies at the US National
Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
“There isn’t just one healthy
version, and there are many
ways to get one,” he says.
But research suggests diversity
is a crucial aspect of good health.
“The general idea is that
a diseased microbiome is
relatively depleted,” Dr Karp
says. “It doesn’t have the
variety of microbes a healthy
microbiome does.”
One danger to your gut
seems certain: antibiotics.
They can change your gut’s
composition, and some people
never recover – scientists can’t
yet predict who will be affected
permanently. “Don’t use them
unless you absolutely have
to,” Dr Karp says. (See Action
Steps, page 99.) ➤diabetic living JULY/AUGUST 2017 97