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Is leaky gut a cause of diabetes and if so what is the cause(s) of leaky gut?

Amity Island

Amity Island

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Diabetes

For years, diabetes has been linked to diet, lifestyle, and genetics. But recent research suggests that gut health plays a major role—specifically, a condition called leaky gut (intestinal permeability). Scientists are now discovering that a damaged gut barrier may increase inflammation, contribute to autoimmune reactions, and worsen insulin resistance.

What Is Leaky Gut?

• The gut lining is designed to absorb nutrients while keeping toxins and harmful bacteria out.

• When the gut barrier becomes compromised, unwanted substances leak into the bloodstream.

• This triggers an immune response, causing widespread inflammation that affects metabolism and insulin function.

How Leaky Gut Contributes to Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (Autoimmune Destruction)

• In T1D, the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing beta cells.

• Leaky gut allows bacterial toxins (like lipopolysaccharides or LPS) into the blood, triggering immune activation.

• Studies show that elevated gut permeability occurs before T1D develops, suggesting it might be a trigger for the disease.


Type 2 Diabetes (Chronic Inflammation & Insulin Resistance)

• Leaky gut allows inflammatory molecules to enter circulation, leading to low-grade chronic inflammation.

• This inflammation damages insulin receptors, making it harder for cells to absorb glucose (insulin resistance).

• Research shows that people with type 2 diabetes have higher levels of gut-derived toxins in their bloodstream.

Scientific Evidence Supporting the Gut-Diabetes Connection

• Harvard Health: Leaky gut is associated with chronic diseases, including diabetes.

• Frontiers in Endocrinology (2020 Study): Found increased gut permeability in people at risk for type 1 diabetes.

• MDPI (2023 Study): Shows that gut microbiota imbalances contribute to insulin resistance.

Can Healing the Gut Improve Diabetes?

Emerging evidence suggests that improving gut health may help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation. Dietary and lifestyle changes can restore the gut barrier, potentially benefiting those with diabetes.

What should you eat to heal your gut and support blood sugar control?

Find out in Part 2: The Best Gut-Friendly Foods for Diabetes Management in tomorrows article.

www.diabeteshealth.com

The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Diabetes - Diabetes Health

The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Diabetes - Diabetes Health - The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Diabetes For years, diabetes has been linked to diet, lifestyle, and genetics. But recent research suggests that
www.diabeteshealth.com
 
Next question.

What triggers a leaky gut?

There are many potential triggers, suggesting that leaky gut is caused by a combination of dietary or lifestyle choices. Some could include...

1. Too much sugar
A diet high in sugar, especially one high in fructose, is believed to damage your intestinal wall, reducing its effectiveness as a barrier to your bloodstream.

2. Excessive alcohol
Alcohol has been proven to reduce the levels of beneficial bacteria in your gut, and it’s also believed to increase the permeability of your intestinal wall, meaning that gaps are more likely to appear.

3. Deficiencies in certain vitamins
Studies have shown that participants with vitamin A, vitamin D and/or zinc deficiencies had an increased risk of high intestinal permeability and leaky gut.

4. An unhealthy gut
It seems obvious that an unhappy gut could cause further problems. To keep the gut working well, we need to maintain a community of beneficial bacteria. When this balance is broken, it has been proven to negatively affect the barrier function of our intestinal wall.

5. High stress levels
Feeling stressed over a long period of time has been linked to several gastrointestinal conditions.

6. Chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation, especially inflammation that affects the intestinal tract over a long period of time, has been previously linked to leaky gut syndrome as it reduces the effectiveness of the gut’s barrier function.

7. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
It has been found that taking NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, regularly and over a long duration may trigger leaky gut syndrome as it increases the permeability of the intestinal walls.

www.hollandandbarrett.com

Leaky Gut: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | Holland & Barrett

Is ‘leaky gut’ a real disease? Or is it just a side effect? We explore the facts around this unsolved condition
www.hollandandbarrett.com www.hollandandbarrett.com
 
Yes, is my answer. I believe Type 1 is linked to the gut. Years ago I got fascinated by that and read loads of articles and studies. One was a guy studying tribal diets and the microbiome, looking for a cure for Type 1. He, and others, were also investigating faecal transplants as a cure.

Another cause of poor gut integrity is a lack of breastfeeding in babies. The colostrum helps seal the gut properly in infancy.
 
Inka said:
Yes, is my answer. I believe Type 1 is linked to the gut. Years ago I got fascinated by that and read loads of articles and studies. One was a guy studying tribal diets and the microbiome, looking for a cure for Type 1. He, and others, were also investigating faecal transplants as a cure.

Another cause of poor gut integrity is a lack of breastfeeding in babies. The colostrum helps seal the gut properly in infancy.
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The list of causes of leaky gut seem to sum up nicely, pretty much everything modern day diets and lifestyles include.
 
Yes @JITR and that could help explain the link between Type 1 and coeliac disease.

There was some doctor or scientist in Hungary (?) who used a gluten-free diet in a newly diagnosed child with Type 1 and it seemed to hold it off for longer than expected.
 
I supppose it’s hard to prove the mechanism. Is there any way to diagnosis leaky gut? I don’t know. Also, there might be a multi-factorial cause - maybe a sequence of events that causes the auto-immune attack?
 
90% of what is on the shelves in any "convenience" store is c**p. I'm sure "convenience" will be the death of us (mankind). Be it food, lifestyle, live, work, play, consume at home.
 
Inka said:
I supppose it’s hard to prove the mechanism. Is there any way to diagnosis leaky gut? I don’t know. Also, there might be a multi-factorial cause - maybe a sequence of events that causes the auto-immune attack?
Click to expand...
I agree, but for so many to claim for so long they have no idea; is well;.....
 
Amity Island said:
90% of what is on the shelves in any "convenience" store is c**p. I'm sure "convenience" will be the death of us (mankind). Be it food, lifestyle, live, work, play, consume at home.
Click to expand...

Convenience and also social changes that are detrimental to our health, eg the closure of small local greengrocers and the like; the increase in both parents working F/T, meaning less time to shop or, importantly, prepare healthy food from scratch, etc.
 
Inka said:
Convenience and also social changes that are detrimental to our health, eg the closure of small local greengrocers and the like; the increase in both parents working F/T, meaning less time to shop or, importantly, prepare healthy food from scratch, etc.
Click to expand...
Can't beat home prepared meals. You know exactly what is and is not it in them. Allergies and intolerances are easier to accommodate too.
 
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