Scientists discover first symptoms of diabetes: They appear years before diagnosis

Swedish researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have made a significant discovery regarding type 2 diabetes, identifying early warning signs in the gut microbiota that manifest several years before a formal diagnosis. Citing World Health Organization data, the study highlights the alarming global rise in diabetes, which has doubled since the 1990s, affecting 800 million people today, with 90% suffering from type 2.

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Nasze badanie pozwoliło wykazać zmiany w mikrobiocie jelitowej na kilka lat przed rozwojem choroby. Może to wskazywać, że skład mikrobiomu odgrywa rolę w rozwoju cukrzycy, a nie odwrotnie

The research, published in "Cell Reports Medicine," observed 4,600 adults in Sweden over five years. They found that individuals who later developed type 2 diabetes exhibited noticeable changes in their gut bacteria composition years prior. This suggests that the gut microbiome's state could be a contributing factor to the disease's onset, rather than merely a symptom. "Our study showed changes in the gut microbiota several years before the disease developed. This may indicate that the composition of the microbiome plays a role in the development of diabetes, and not the other way around," explained Dr. Gaël Toubon, the study's author.

The study identified nine specific bacteria associated with increased diabetes risk. Intriguingly, the impact of these bacteria, whether beneficial or harmful, appears to be influenced by an individual's dietary habits. For instance, the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, usually linked to health benefits, was found in high quantities in individuals who developed diabetes. Researchers explain that under favorable conditions, this bacterium feeds on dietary fiber. However, with insufficient fiber intake, it can degrade the gut's protective mucus layer, potentially leading to inflammation and metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

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W sprzyjających warunkach bakteria ta odżywia się błonnikiem, który dostarczamy z dietą. Kiedy jednak spożycie błonnika jest zbyt niskie, zaczyna rozkładać ochronną warstwę śluzu w jelitach. Może to prowadzić do kontaktu innych bakterii z wyściółką jelita, powodując stan zapalny i inne zaburzenia metaboliczne związane z insulinoopornością oraz cukrzycą typu 2

Conversely, the presence of the bacterium Coprococcus catus seemed to confer a higher risk when its quantity was low, but this risk diminished when its levels were higher. The researchers emphasize the need for further extensive studies to confirm these findings. If validated, the gut microbiota could become a target for personalized diabetes prevention strategies. "Research on the gut microbiota has made enormous progress in recent years, but new knowledge has had little impact on clinical practice so far," Dr. Toubon noted. "In the future, these bacteria could be used as biomarkers to identify individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, complementing existing risk factors like obesity, heredity, and blood glucose levels with a stool sample for better prediction."

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Badania nad mikrobiotą jelitową poczyniły w ostatnich latach ogromne postępy, ale nowa wiedza jak dotąd miała niewielki wpływ na praktykę kliniczną. W przyszłości bakterie te mogłyby być wykorzystywane jako biomarkery do identyfikowania osób zagrożonych rozwojem cukrzycy typu 2. Czynniki ryzyka, takie jak otyłość, dziedziczność i poziom glukozy we krwi, można by uzupełnić o próbkę kału, aby lepiej przewidywać