Feeding the Right Bugs—How Nutrition, Gut Microbes, and Type 2 Diabetes Intersect
Offering new insights into personalised care for diabetes prevention.
If diabetes continues to rise at the current rates, it is forecast that 3 million Australians over the age of 25 will have diabetes by the year 2025.
In their 2024 review in Nutrients, Hamamah and colleagues explore how nutrition influences both the composition of our gut microbiome and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
They highlight how dietary patterns—especially those rich in plants and fiber—promote a healthy gut ecosystem that helps manage blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. On the flip side, and for some, diets heavy in animal products can worsen gut dysbiosis and metabolic outcomes.
“This review emphasises not just what we eat, but how those foods reshape our gut microbes and metabolic fate.”
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a widespread metabolic disorder marked by elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance, and lipid imbalance—
In Australia, T2DM is a significant health concern, affecting a large portion of the population.
In 2021, almost 1.2million Australians were living with T2DM, with males 1.3x more likely affected.
Diabetes related hospitalisations are substantial with nearly 1.3 million associated hospitalisations in 2020-2021.
Prevalence increases with age and risk factors include family history, ethnicity, diet, gut imbalances and lifestyle choices.
Approximately 60% of T2DM cases can be delayed or prevented through lifestyle changes.
If diabetes continues to rise at the current rates it is forecast that 3 million Australians over the age of 25 will have diabetes by the year 2025 with an intolerable burden on the health care system.
I systematically review every microbial investigation result with a mission to reduce the burden of disease on all organs, not just the gastrointestinal system because…..
So what does the science say ?
Microbial Shifts & Metabolism
A healthy gut flora is dominated by beneficial bacteria, but T2DM often brings increased unhealthy overgrowths, Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios, and reduced populations of some of the healthiest species like Roseburia intestinalis, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Conversely, unfavorable microbes such as Escherichia coli and certain Clostridium species tend to flourish.
These imbalances drive inflammation and insulin resistance, triggering unhealthy metabolites and waste products, unhealthy pathways to fat cells and impairing healthy glucose uptake.Metabolite Mediators
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), produced or modulated by gut bacteria play significant and critical roles in systemic inflammation, insulin signaling, and glucose metabolism. For example, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus—key SCFA producers—are associated with improved T2DM biological markers.
So… what matters most ?
Macronutrient Effects
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats each uniquely affect microbial patterns and metabolite production, with downstream effects on inflammation and glucose control, however… every biome is uniquely different.
Diet quality matters: Plant-rich, Mediterranean-style diets—full of fiber and phytonutrients—tend to lower glucose signaling, waist size, and insulin resistance. In contrast, animal-based diets, for most but not always, can trend in the opposite direction. Diet quality can also support the natural production of GLP-1 peptides by healthy enterocytes.
Micronutrients and Food Patterns
Although less deeply explored, vitamins and minerals also shape gut microbes and metabolic outcomes. The research paper highlights how different food groups—comprising specific macro- and micronutrient combinations—modulate both gut microbiota and T2DM risk .
and don’t forget your parasympathetic nervous system :
Key Takeaway
“Nutrition stands out as one of the most potent, modifiable influences shaping both the composition of the gut microbiome and the trajectory of T2DM.”
Having your Gut Microbial species investigated and balanced can be one of the smartest interventions to support true preventative care.
Victoria Pavasovic CFNMP RN MACN
Certified Functional and Nutritional Medicine Practitioner.
Co-Biome Microbiome Practitioner
Skin Health + Hair Restoration
Compounded Skin Nutraceuticals
Professional Food and Nutritional Coach
Resources:
"Nutrition at the Intersection between Gut Microbiota Eubiosis and Effective Management of Type 2 Diabetes"(Nutrients, 2024, 16(2), 269) by Hamamah, Iatcu, and Covasa.