Your gut happens to be more involved with your health than just digesting your meals.
A recent paper suggests that it can also defend against gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
This study followed 300 pregnant women found that those with low levels of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria (beneficial gut microbes) in their gut during the first trimester were more likely to develop GDM by the second trimester.
💩 Gut Check Highlights:
✅ More Bacteroidetes & Actinobacteria = Lower blood sugar & less GDM risk
🚫 High Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes Ratio = Higher fasting glucose & GDM risk; Firmicutes species are bad gut microbes
🍎 Diet Matters—Plenty of fiber, and fermented foods may keep your gut bacteria (and blood sugar) more easily balanced!
Moral of the story?
Feed your gut right, and it might just keep those pregnancy blood sugars in check! 🚼🔬
(Now go eat some yogurt, your gut bugs will thank you!)
P.S. To see if genes or environmental triggers have more of an impact on diabetes development, read here.