Contents:
- Medical Video: Probiotics, Blood Sugar, and Diabetes
- Probiotics can affect blood sugar levels
- Why is the consumption of probiotics beneficial for people with diabetes mellitus?
- How to increase the amount of probiotics in the body
Medical Video: Probiotics, Blood Sugar, and Diabetes
Probiotics are bacteria that are beneficial to health. This type of bacteria benefits by living in the human intestine. However, besides being needed to maintain gastrointestinal health, probiotic activity also affects the work of glucose metabolism and maintains optimal blood sugar levels.
Probiotics can affect blood sugar levels
One of the roles of probiotic bacteria in digestion is to produce small metabolites or chemical molecules. The substance is useful for regulating cells in the digestive tract in order to work according to its function. The acid produced by probiotics is also useful for regulating oxidative acid and prevents increased blood sugar levels from absorption of glucose in the intestine.
Other mechanisms related to the balance of blood sugar levels are thought to originate from strengthening immunity, because a decrease in body immunity is often associated with an increase in blood sugar levels. Until now, several examples of types of probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium genera and Bifidobacterium lactis has been shown to be beneficial in balancing blood sugar levels.
In addition, probiotics have also been shown to influence blood platelet reactions (hemoglobin) when binding to glucose in the formation of glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1C). One study in Canada,showing consumption of prebiotics can reduce blood sugar levels in healthy individuals and individuals with prediabetes. Individuals taking probiotics for about three months have an Hb A1C level of 5.5% lower than individuals who do not take probiotics.
Researchers also say insulin sensitivity can come from components butyrate which is produced by intestinal bacteria so that insulin is more sensitive to absorb glucose from the blood.
Why is the consumption of probiotics beneficial for people with diabetes mellitus?
Not only beneficial for healthy people, the benefits of taking probiotics can also be obtained by people with diabetes mellitus. In some studies, the benefits of probiotics for diabetics are not only a decrease in blood sugar levels, but also can increase the activity of insulin secretion in someone.
Research results in Malaysia are posted on the site diabetes.co.uk shows that consumption of yogurt with various types of probiotic bacteria is associated with a decrease in fasting sugar levels in people with diabetes mellitus. While research others also found the benefits of probiotic consumption in increasing insulin levels and reducing insulin resistance reactions in people with diabetes mellitus by regularly consuming yogurt for about eight weeks.
How to increase the amount of probiotics in the body
Probiotic intake can be obtained from several types of foods that are added by probiotic bacteria, or have naturally contained probiotics. Most foods that contain probiotics have a low glycemic index, which is safe for consumption by diabetics. Some examples of foods and drinks containing probiotics include:
- Fermented milk
- Buttermilk (butter-making milk)
- Tempe
- Sour cream
- Miso (fermented soybeans)
- Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage-based food)
- Cheese with probiotic culture
- Kefir
- Yogurt and frozen yogurt
Besides being in the form of food, probiotics can also be consumed through special supplements. This type of supplement contains bacteria of more than ten million live bacteria per gram which are packaged in capsule form to be able to live in the digestive tract. Even so, the use of probiotic supplements tends to be new so there are not many known side effects.
The use of probiotic supplements must also be careful and should be under the supervision of a doctor if you have a condition that causes a decrease in immunity such as suffering from HIV / AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Consumption of probiotics is also not permitted when a person experiences illness due to damage or inflammation in the internal organs, as well as in patients who are receiving intensive care or ICU. The impact of consumption of supplements on pregnant women, the elderly and children is also not widely known, but allergy symptoms may arise because supplements contain live bacteria.
