Intestinal Flora And Diabetes: A Primer

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Studies on rats and other rodents often have some relevance to human health. There are a lot of correlations. Often studies are initially conducted on rodents with human studies coming later. Many times, experiments on rodents and humans have similar results.

A study conducted at the Institute of Aging in Baltimore found out something very interesting with either rats or mice. The researchers were looking at beneficial gut bacteria called Akkermansia. This is a type of good bacteria that perform many vital roles in our gut. Akkermansia help break down fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate, acetate, and valerate, to name a few. These short-chain fatty acids are very important for intestinal health. SCFAs help fuel intestinal cells and provide a healthy environment for the colon to reabsorb what it needs from stool. SCFAs also create different types of signals that communicate with the immune system. Researchers found that insulin sensitivity is very much affected by Akkermansia. When the level of Akkermansia goes down, insulin resistance goes up. If insulin resistance goes high enough, it can result in blood sugar problems and, eventually, type 2 diabetes.

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Even though the research is still in its early phases, there could well be a significant link between gut bacteria, blood sugar, and the development of diabetes. I probably won’t see it in my lifetime, but eventually, I think most chronic diseases will be linked to certain types of bacteria.

I suspect that the ability to “fingerprint” a person’s microbiome and then make the appropriate adjustments will form the basis of medical treatment in the future. Incredibly, we will go from killing bacteria with antibiotics to building up beneficial bacteria and using probiotics.

Medicine and science will finally realize you can’t get people’s health right by giving toxic chemical preparations that kill cells and cause extreme chemical reactions in the body. I think people will realize that the only way to build health is by eating the right kind of foods and getting the correct type of bacteria in the gut to a high level. Whether

it’s emotional health, cognitive health, blood sugar health, endocrine health, or overall health, it won’t matter. All types of health will improve with improved gut bacteria.

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About Eric Bakker N.D.

Eric Bakker ND has completed almost ten years of study and has almost almost 25 years of clinical experience in natural and integrative forms of medicine, and has pursued continuous post-graduate study in Australia, America, India as well as in New Zealand.

Eric is the past Vice President of the NZ Natural Medicine Association and is currently on their editorial advisory board.