Can interventions that focus on healing the gut microbiome of a pre-diabetic patient prevent or delay the onset of diabetes?

Start Date

April 2020

End Date

April 2020

Major Field of Study

Nursing

Student Type

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor(s)

Patricia Harris, PhD, RN, CNS

Presentation Format

Poster Presentation

Abstract/Description

Introduction:

Diabetes is a major health problem that is becoming the biggest epidemic of the 21st century. Efforts to derail the progression of disrupted blood glucose metabolism are often futile leaving patients frustrated with a lifelong burden of disease management. Recent studies suggest that collectively the gut microbiome acts as an endocrine organ and that injury to this “organ” can lead to dysfunctional glucose regulation. A comprehensive literature review revealed that further studies are needed to explore alternative approaches to restoring normal glucose regulation.

Objective:

This proposed quantitative, comparative study aims to explore the effectiveness of a weekly program focusing on the establishment of a healthy gut microbiome to prevent the development of diabetes.

Methodology:

The proposed sample will be 100 prediabetic adult patients (ages 25-65) who will be randomly divided into two groups: a treatment (Group A) and a control (Group B). All participants will provide a baseline fasting blood glucose, A1C and a fecal sample before the start of the study. Group A will attend an intensive educational program that consists of hour-long, weekly meetings for 12 weeks. Group A will attend weekly discussions of evidence-based research on ways to promote a healthy gut microbiome as a means to obtain normal blood glucose regulation. Activities that harm the gut thus promoting the growth of pathogenic bacteria will also be discussed and discouraged. Group B, the control group, will participate in a 12-week support group program without any educational component. At the end of the study, we will compare the two groups’ fasting blood glucose, A1C and fecal microbiome composition.

Keywords: gut microbiota, gut microbiome, prediabetes, prediabetic

Comments

This presentation was accepted for the Scholarly and Creative Works Conference at Dominican University of California. The Conference was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

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Apr 22nd, 10:00 AM Apr 22nd, 8:00 PM

Can interventions that focus on healing the gut microbiome of a pre-diabetic patient prevent or delay the onset of diabetes?

Introduction:

Diabetes is a major health problem that is becoming the biggest epidemic of the 21st century. Efforts to derail the progression of disrupted blood glucose metabolism are often futile leaving patients frustrated with a lifelong burden of disease management. Recent studies suggest that collectively the gut microbiome acts as an endocrine organ and that injury to this “organ” can lead to dysfunctional glucose regulation. A comprehensive literature review revealed that further studies are needed to explore alternative approaches to restoring normal glucose regulation.

Objective:

This proposed quantitative, comparative study aims to explore the effectiveness of a weekly program focusing on the establishment of a healthy gut microbiome to prevent the development of diabetes.

Methodology:

The proposed sample will be 100 prediabetic adult patients (ages 25-65) who will be randomly divided into two groups: a treatment (Group A) and a control (Group B). All participants will provide a baseline fasting blood glucose, A1C and a fecal sample before the start of the study. Group A will attend an intensive educational program that consists of hour-long, weekly meetings for 12 weeks. Group A will attend weekly discussions of evidence-based research on ways to promote a healthy gut microbiome as a means to obtain normal blood glucose regulation. Activities that harm the gut thus promoting the growth of pathogenic bacteria will also be discussed and discouraged. Group B, the control group, will participate in a 12-week support group program without any educational component. At the end of the study, we will compare the two groups’ fasting blood glucose, A1C and fecal microbiome composition.

Keywords: gut microbiota, gut microbiome, prediabetes, prediabetic