The human digestion system is essentially a long tube, but it serves a very important role in the body’s functioning. It is in the process of digestion, particularly in the large intestine, where the food we eat meets the gut bacteria that live and thrive on our “leftovers.” Often when we think of bacteria, we think of the “bad stuff” that causes disease. Cutting-edge research, however, has highlighted the “good stuff”—bacteria that contribute to and even promote health.
Recent studies have explored the connection between the gut microbiota—the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract—and diabetes, with some studies looking specifically at associations between gut microbiome composition and insulin resistance (a condition in which extra insulin is required to maintain normal blood glucose levels). The focus of some of these studies has been on
