Gut bacteria may raise risk of Type 2 Diabetes

A new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism has found that an adverse change in the type of bacteria present in the gut may increase the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. In Type 2 Diabetes, there is either no production of insulin or the produced insulin is not capable of processing the sugar present in the blood. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the cells present in the muscles, body fat and the liver cannot process the sugar in the blood. Insulin resistance and obesity increase the risk of progression of Diabetes.

The study was conducted on 40 individuals, of which 20 people had Type 2 Diabetes and 20 people had insulin resistance but no Diabetes. Samples from three abdominal

fat deposits and the liver were collected to study the type of bacteria that is present in these tissues. The study has observed that people with Type 2 Diabetes had significantly high gut bacteria present in the liver and the fatty areas of the stomach. Further studies are being conducted to understand the link between gut bacteria, obesity and Diabetes.

Source: Nature Metabolism, 2024