Bacteria That Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

Bacteria That Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

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Dear Member

I recently told you here about a harmful strain of bacteria that can cause type 2 diabetes. But bacteria aren't all bad. It seems that the right kind of friendly bacteria in your gut could prevent type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which immune system cells attack insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. And having a healthy population of gut bacteria might even help to restore insulin production in people who already have type 1 diabetes.

These findings come from scientific detective work carried out in France. In studies with mice, researchers discovered that insulin-secreting beta cells also produce peptides (protein fragments) called cathelicidins, which regulate immune system activity.1 In diabetic mice, the production of cathelicidins is impaired; and when the scientists injected these mice with cathelicidins, they found that pancreatic inflammation and autoimmune disease was suppressed.

The next step was to look at factors involved in the production of cathelicidins and here it appeared that short-chain fatty acids, produced by the action of beneficial bacteria in the gut, played a key role. And when the researchers looked at the levels of these fatty acids in mice, sure enough they saw that they were lower in the diabetic mice. Then, by transferring some of the gut bacteria from healthy mice to diabetic mice, they found that normal levels of cathelicidin were restored and the occurrence of autoimmune diabetes was reduced.

So, in a nutshell, a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in the gut manufactures short chain fatty acids, which enable the pancreas to produce peptides that stop the immune system from becoming aggressive and attacking the insulin-producing cells. Commenting on their study, the authors said, "This research is further evidence of the undeniable role microbiota [the gut bacteria] plays in autoimmune diseases, particularly in controlling the development of autoimmune diabetes."

It has been suspected for some years that the gut bacteria may play a protective role against type 1 diabetes. Children delivered by Caesarean section, who don't pick up bacteria from their mothers in the normal course of birth, are at higher risk of type 1 diabetes. Studies also show that the gut bacteria in children who develop type 1 diabetes are significantly different from those in children who don't. But this new research demonstrates exactly how a healthy population of gut bacteria regulates immune system activity.

As I mentioned here, most people with type 1 diabetes are still able to produce some insulin, and eating in a way that encourages the right kind of gut bacteria could help reduce the auto-immune damage to your pancreas and get it to function better. And for children who are at higher risk of type 1 diabetes, from Caesarean delivery or because it runs in the family, a diet that supports the gut bacteria is particularly important.

Make friends with your friendly bacteria

The wrong kind of gut bacteria are also involved in obesity and type 2 diabetes, as I wrote here. When they are out of whack, your gut bacteria can cause a condition known as leaky gut syndrome, which leads to body-wide inflammation, fat deposition, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. And healthy gut bacteria could also help prevent colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. So, looking after your gut bacteria should be a priority, whether you have type 1 or 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome or simply want to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Here are some ways to do it:

• A type of carbohydrate called "resistant starch" feeds the gut bacteria, enabling them to produce short-chain fatty acids. Find it in cooked pulses, (e.g. baked beans and lentils), raw rolled oats and under-ripe bananas
  
• Keep your intake of wheat products low, since gluten can encourage the wrong kind of gut bacteria. Gluten is also found in barley, rye and spelt
  
• Foods that contain soluble fibre promote the growth of beneficial gut flora. Good ones are chicory, leeks, onions, Jerusalem artichokes and garlic
  
• Avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners and processed foods, all of which harm the gut bacteria; keep red meat intake low and include plenty of vegetables and low GL fruit
  
• Eat unsweetened "live" yoghurt daily, or take a probiotic supplement. And try other fermented foods, too, such as kefir, sauerkraut and tempeh
  

Several medications can play havoc with your gut bacteria. One of them is finasteride, a drug used to treat male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement. And finasteride has recently been found to cause insulin resistance, as well as sexual dysfunction, depression and cognitive decline, as I shall reveal in my next blog post.