How Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Affect Heart and Kidney Health

From niddk.nih.gov/health-information

How do obesity and type 2 diabetes affect heart and kidney health? Learn about how these conditions are connected, and how these links can affect patients with type 2 diabetes.

Obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease present distinct challenges for health care professionals, particularly when treating their patients with type 2 diabetes. Sadiya S. Khan, MD, a cardiologist with a focus on the influence of obesity on heart disease, discusses the connections among these conditions—recently defined in an American Heart Association (AHA) presidential advisory External link as Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome—and how type 2 diabetes can worsen heart and kidney disease, and vice versa.

Q: How do obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease interact and influence each other? How does obesity affect this interaction?

A: One of the key things that we’ve learned about how these conditions develop is that they are connected. Obesity—also called excess or dysfunctional adiposity—is a source of inflammation and oxidative stress. Through this and other mechanisms, obesity contributes to the risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and impaired kidney function, all of which often cluster and occur together and lead to heart disease.

Q: How does this interaction affect people with type 2 diabetes, particularly? Why is heart failure an especially common outcome?

A: People with type 2 diabetes have a high risk for developing heart disease, particularly heart failure. In fact, even when diabetes is well-managed, risk for heart failure persists. Risk of heart failure in people with type 2 diabetes has been underappreciated and less recognized due to our early focus on heart problems caused by clogged arteries, or coronary artery disease. Among people with type 2 diabetes, those who also have chronic kidney disease have an even higher risk of heart disease, heart failure, and death.

Q: How are newer medicines such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors used to manage these conditions?

A: One of the most positive things is that we now have medicines such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor agonists that can treat all these conditions—obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Some of these medicines were originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but we now know these medicines have the potential to also treat obesity, improve kidney function or kidney health, and prevent heart disease.

For people who have both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease—and thus the highest risk of dying and developing heart disease and heart failure—these medicines can be lifesaving.

However, many people taking these medicines stop within a year. There are important unanswered questions about whether the short-term use of these medicines has any long-term benefit, and even the potential for harm. For example, once people stop taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, they often regain any weight they lose. In fact, regaining weight may lead to harmful changes in body makeup, especially if someone has lost lean muscle mass.

Q: The AHA recently defined these connected conditions as CKM syndrome. How does this help to test, treat, and manage these conditions as a group?

A: The AHA scientific statement and presidential advisory bring together, for the first time, a way to consider testing for, treating, and managing these conditions in a holistic way. As part of these considerations, the advisory identifies five stages External link that are defined by the presence or absence of risk factors.

The AHA created these stages to focus on preventing health problems earlier. If we aren’t identifying people earlier and we’re just waiting until they have signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease and heart failure, then we’re missing the boat. The goal is to enhance health for people and make sure they understand that these stages are gradual, but also reversible.

Q: How can we encourage health care professionals to manage these as connected, rather than isolated, conditions? What are the most significant challenges and barriers that we can address now?

A: It’s important that we focus on how to improve overall health, quality of life, and outcomes for patients. We should think about the whole person rather than just how to treat diabetes or kidney disease or manage weight. I think we’re getting there. Defining CKM syndrome is a helpful step forward, but we’re not there yet.

One of the key challenges is to provide the kind of team-based care that the AHA advisory recommends. A team-based approach including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals is critical to manage this group of connected conditions.

We’re seeing some success now with emerging cardiometabolic clinics that enable high-quality and timely access to care, particularly among patients with type 2 diabetes. Creating some standards across these types of clinics will be essential. Other challenges include how people access health care and food.

Q: What questions do we still have about treating these conditions? Have we identified areas for future research?

A: There are still many questions about the best way to treat these conditions, including which medicines to start and when. We are fortunate that advances in science have given us many options for treating patients. However, we should consider which is the right medicine for the right patient at the right time.

We also must figure out how to help people stick with their treatments, especially people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists. Early estimates suggest between 50% and 75% of people taking these medicines stop after a year External link, often due to cost and access issues. But we need to understand what other factors make people stop taking the medicines and how to address them. Stopping these medicines can reverse their benefits. One of the important things to recognize is that these are chronic disease medicines and are not meant to be short-term treatments.

One of the most pressing areas for research is how type 2 diabetes affects the heart muscle or the heart tissue itself, leading to the most common type of heart failure, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We know that in this type of heart failure, the heart pumps normally but struggles to relax fully, leading to symptoms. Unfortunately, we have very few treatments to help these people live longer. Improving our understanding of how type 2 diabetes leads to heart disease—what some people call diabetic cardiomyopathy—is important to improve quality of life and survival in people with type 2 diabetes.

About the Expert

Sadiya S. Khan, MD, is a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and coauthor of the AHA presidential advisory on CKM syndrome. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Khan’s research focuses on the influence of obesity on heart disease, especially heart failure.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/how-obesity-type-2-diabetes-affect-heart-kidney-health

The #1 Underrated Exercise to Do If You Have Diabetes, According to Experts

From eatingwell.com

You’ll be amazed how easy it is! 

If you’re living with diabetes or prediabetes, your doctor might suggest adding more exercise to your routine to help keep your blood sugar in check. But that advice may leave you overwhelmed and wondering, what’s the best exercise for diabetes? Should I hit the treadmill, sign up for a fitness class or invest in exercise equipment? 

The answer might surprise you. Experts agree the best exercise for diabetes is the most underrated. It’s walking! Here’s how walking can help improve your blood sugar, and how much you need to do for better blood sugar management.

                                                                      Photo: Getty Images. EatingWell design

How Walking Can Improve Your Blood Sugar

Improves Insulin Sensitivity

Think of exercise as free medication for blood sugar management. When someone has diabetes, they may be resistant to their body’s own insulin, or their pancreas might not produce enough insulin, says Amy Kimberlain, M.S., RDN, CDCES, a certified diabetes educator and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because insulin is necessary to transport glucose from the blood into your cells for energy, this can cause sugar to hang out in the bloodstream, resulting in elevated blood sugar readings. 

How can walking help? “Any type of exercise, like walking, helps the body use its insulin better and can help lower blood sugar levels,” adds Kimberlain. And the benefits don’t stop once you finish your walk. The positive effects of exercise can last up to 24 hours after a workout, she says. So, you still reap the benefits hours later.

Prevents Blood Sugar Spikes

Keeping blood sugar levels stable is key for managing diabetes, and walking can help. “Even taking a short walk after meals, just 10- to 15-minute walk, can help prevent blood sugar spikes,” says Ashley Hawk, M.S., RD, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian. “Research shows that a short walk within 30 minutes of eating can help blunt post-meal blood sugar spikes, which is a game-changer for diabetes management.”

Supports Heart Health 

Exercise doesn’t just strengthen your muscles. It also strengthens the heart and improves circulation. This is especially important for people with diabetes, who face a higher risk of heart disease.  That’s because consistently high blood sugar levels can damage coronary arteries, making them susceptible to fatty atherosclerotic deposits, leading to coronary artery disease, says Kunal Lal, M.D., a Florida-based cardiologist.

The good news? Walking offers major heart-health benefits. It can help lower blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce markers of inflammation and raise beneficial HDL cholesterol. So, every step you take supports your body in a multitude of ways.

Strategies to Incorporate Walking into Your Routine

Make It a Regular Habit

Consistency is key when it comes to adding walking to your routine. While you don’t have to walk every day, experts recommend a total of 150 minutes of moderate- intensity activity per week. You can break it down in various ways. If you enjoy hitting the pavement most days, break that up into 30 minutes five times a week. If a daily walk is more your jam, aim for about 25 minutes per day. Or, if you prefer longer stretches, shoot for 75 minutes twice a week. Remember, you also can break up the time into smaller chunks, such as 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, to fit a jam-packed schedule. 

Time It Right

The great thing about walking is you can do it practically anytime and anywhere. However, certain times of day may be especially advantageous. Studies show that walking after meals is more effective at reducing blood sugar spikes and managing blood sugar levels than exercising before eating. Research has found this to be true for people both with and without type 2 diabetes.

If you’ve been in the habit of plopping yourself down on the couch post-meal, try lacing up your sneakers instead. Hawk adds, “If you only have time for one walk a day, making it after your biggest meal can give you the most bang for your buck.”

Kick It Up a Notch

A leisurely walk is a great start, but a little more intensity will yield even bigger benefits. Kimberlain suggests aiming for a brisk pace that gets your heart rate up and pumping but still allows you to carry on a conversation. For most people, that’s a 3- to 4-mile-per-hour pace, she says.

You can also do intervals, such as speed walking for 1 minute, followed by 3 minutes of moderate walking. If that feels good, repeat the cycle a few times to challenge yourself. Or, if you have hills in your neighbourhood, incorporate a few hill repeats throughout your walk. Need a structured plan? Try our 7-Day Walking Plan to Lower Your Blood Sugar or our 30-Day Walking Plan to Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels. 

The Bottom Line

Walking is the No. 1 most underrated exercise for diabetes.  Research shows that walking can help improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels and support heart health. Plus, it’s free, simple and you can do it virtually anywhere. So, whether you prefer to take it outdoors, on a treadmill, at the beach or even the stairs, there are lots of places to get those steps in!

If you’re wondering how much is enough, experts recommend 150 minutes per week. But if you’re not there yet, start slowly and increase as you get more comfortable. And don’t feel like you have to do it all at once—you can easily break it down into several small walks. Whether you do 10 15-minute walks, five 30-minute walks or two longer 75-minute walks, you’ll do good things for your blood sugar. Because when it comes to your health, every step counts!

https://www.eatingwell.com/underrated-exercise-for-diabetes-11681859

Weight loss can improve or reverse type 2 diabetes

From reuters.com/business

The more weight people with type 2 diabetes lose, the greater the odds that the disease will go partially or even completely into remission, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

Reviewing 22 earlier randomized trials testing weight loss interventions in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found complete remission of the disease in half of those who lost 20% to 29% of their body weight. Nearly 80% of patients who lost 30% of body weight no longer appeared to have diabetes.

That means their haemoglobin A1c levels – a standard measure reflecting average blood sugar levels over the past few months – or their fasting blood sugar levels had returned to normal without use of any diabetes medications.

No one who lost less than 20% of their body weight achieved a complete remission, but some were in partial remission, with hemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose levels returning almost to normal.

Partial remission was seen in roughly 5% of those who lost less than 10% of their body weight, and that percentage rose steadily with greater weight loss, reaching nearly 90% among those who lost at least 30%.

Overall, for every 1 percentage point decrease in body weight, the probability of reaching complete remission increased by roughly 2 percentage points and the probability of reaching partial remission increased by roughly 3 percentage points, regardless of age, sex, race, diabetes duration, blood sugar control, or type of weight loss intervention.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 96% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, and more than 85% of adults with the disease are overweight or obese, the researchers noted.

“The recent development of effective weight loss medications, if made accessible to all who could benefit, could play a pivotal role” in reducing the prevalence of diabetes and its complications, the researchers said.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/health-rounds-weight-loss-can-improve-or-reverse-type-2-diabetes-2025-02-28/ 

Everything you need to know about diabetic neuropathy

From nebraskamed.com

Around 50% of people with diabetes will go on to develop neuropathy, but sometimes its start is barely noticeable. "Not many people recognise it as a complication," says endocrinologist Shubham Agarwal, MBBS. "Many diabetic neuropathy symptoms start with a loss of sensation. Unfortunately, unless a provider asks about it, it can go unnoticed for a long period of time."

Early warning signs

Diabetic neuropathy typically happens in two ways:

1. Negative symptoms: A total loss of sensation in affected areas.
2. Positive symptoms: May include tingling and “pins and needles” sensations, pain, increased sensitivity to touch and muscle weakness.

"The most common symptoms that patients should be aware of is either some kind of loss of sensation in their feet – that is how it typically begins – or symptoms of numbness or tingling," Dr. Agarwal says.

In advanced cases, the loss of sensation may result in balance issues and a higher risk of falls. This occurs because the feet do not effectively send signals to the brain.

Types of diabetic neuropathy

Although often seen in both feet, beginning at the toes and moving upwards, diabetic neuropathy can show up in different forms:

• Peripheral neuropathy: The classic form affecting the feet, characterized by sensation changes on both sides of the body.
• Autonomic neuropathy: Affects internal organs, like the heart and digestive system. "Our organs are supplied by nerves,” Dr. Agarwal says. “The heart gets impulses and information from various nerve receptors to dictate the rate at which the heart should be beating.” This can lead to blood pressure issues and even paralysis of the stomach muscles (gastroparesis).
• Focal neuropathy: A rare type where single nerves are affected. This may cause symptoms like electrical sensations running down a leg or pain or paralysis of the eye muscles.

Prevention and risk factors

The biggest risk factor is – poorly controlled diabetes over time. "The single most important thing is being very proactive in getting diabetes under control sooner than later. That is the best way to prevent it," Dr. Agarwal says.

For Type 1 diabetes patients, screening usually starts after five years of having the condition. Type 2 diabetes patients should be screened when they are diagnosed. This is because the condition may have been “brewing in the background,” Dr. Agarwal says.

Treatment options

“Treatments for diabetic neuropathy are not the usual pain medications like Tylenol," Dr. Agarwal says. Instead, treatment often involves drugs originally developed for depression or mood disorders, such as:

• Duloxetine
• Venlafaxine
• Gabapentin
• Pregabalin

These drugs help by adjusting the brain chemicals that act like traffic controllers for pain signals. By modulating these chemicals, they help block some of the pain messages from damaged nerves from reaching the brain. This makes the pain more manageable.

Essential self-care practices

Daily foot care is crucial once neuropathy develops. Because a lack of sensation can mask injuries or infections, Dr. Agarwal strongly recommends:

• Checking your feet daily.
• Thorough drying between toes.
• Regular nail care.
• Proper footwear (potentially including specialized diabetic shoes).
• Immediate attention to any cuts or injuries.

"The biggest concern with neuropathy is that there is a certain amount of sensory loss," Dr. Agarwal says. "If you stub your toe or step on a nail, or have bacteria or fungus growing in there, not having enough sensation in the feet means you might not know that something's going on and potentially going to spread inwards."

Working with your doctor

Effective management involves clear communication with your providers. To help, you can:

• Record symptoms and onset in detail.
• Share past treatment information.
• Ask about prevention and progression.
• Discuss lifestyle changes.

Early recognition and intervention can help manage diabetic neuropathy effectively and reduce its impact on your quality of life.

https://www.nebraskamed.com/health/conditions-and-services/diabetes/everything-you-need-to-know-about-diabetic-neuropathy

Review: Artificial intelligence is shaping the future of diabetes care

From news-medical.net/news

The global incidence and prevalence of diabetes continue to rise, increasing rates of associated disability and mortality while imposing a substantial economic burden. Despite advancements in medical technology, diabetes management faces persistent challenges, including a shortage of specialists, uneven distribution of healthcare resources, and low patient adherence, all contributing to suboptimal glycaemic control.

A new review (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hcr.2024.100006) published in the journal Healthcare and Rehabilitation reveals how artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing major changes to diabetes care. By analysing data from blood sugar levels, medical history, and even retinal scans, AI tools can now predict diabetes subtypes, identify high-risk patients, and tailor solutions to individual needs—improving accuracy, reducing healthcare costs and addressing critical gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and daily management.

AI isn't just a tool; it's a partner in care. For example, AI can detect early signs of eye damage from diabetes in retinal images as accurately as specialists, which is critical for preventing blindness."

Dr. Ling Gao, principal investigator of the study, Central Laboratory at Shandong Provincial Hospital

The research highlights several breakthroughs:

- Early Complication Detection: AI predicts risks like kidney disease and heart issues by spotting patterns humans might miss.

- Personalized Treatment: Smart systems adjust insulin doses in real time, cutting dangerous blood sugar swings.

- Diet and Exercise Guidance: Apps analyse meals via photos and suggest recipes, while AI coaches recommend workouts based on location and health data.

Notably, AI even outperformed traditional methods in some areas. "For instance, CT scans analysed by AI could screen for osteoporosis in diabetes patients as effectively as specialized bone density tests," adds Gao. "Wearable devices like smart glucose monitors and socks that detect foot infections further showcase AI's potential to keep patients healthy at home."

However, challenges remain. "AI models need diverse data to avoid biases," emphasizes senior author Dr. Zhongming Wu, a professor in basic and translational studies of endocrine and metabolic diseases, at Affiliated Hospital of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong First Medical University. "A tool trained based on just one population might fail elsewhere."

Additionally, issues like data privacy and the "black box" nature of some AI decisions require careful handling.

The study calls for stronger collaboration between tech developers, doctors, and policymakers to ensure AI tools are safe, fair, and accessible. "AI is a powerful ally in diabetes care, but human oversight remains essential," notes Gao. "While AI won't replace human clinicians, it empowers them to make faster, smarter decisions—ultimately transforming diabetes from a one-size-fits-all disease into a condition managed with precision and foresight."

Source:

KeAi Communications

Journal reference:

Ma, S., et al. (2025). Artificial intelligence and medical-engineering integration in diabetes management: Advances, opportunities, and challenges. Healthcare and Rehabilitation. doi.org/10.1016/j.hcr.2024.100006.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250226/Review-Artificial-intelligence-is-shaping-the-future-of-diabetes-care.aspx

Mushrooms ‘could be used to treat diabetes’

From telegraph.co.uk 

Edible fungi have ‘remarkable potential’ to help people with the Type 2 condition, a study finds

Eating mushrooms could help people manage Type 2 diabetes, a study has suggested.

Researchers at Semmelweis University in Budapest found that edible fungi were rich in chemicals that helped improve sensitivity to insulin, a key problem for diabetics.

“Our study reveals the remarkable potential of natural compounds in mushrooms to address key metabolic pathways,” said Dr Zsuzsanna Németh.

Type 2 diabetes affects around 5.8 million people in the UK and is commonly caused by being overweight and eating an unhealthy diet.

The condition can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss and amputations.

A healthy body produces the hormone insulin in the pancreas in response to eating, using it to turn the sugars in food into energy.

However, in some people, cells develop resistance to the hormone and stop responding correctly.

This is called insulin resistance and leads to elevated levels of sugar in the bloodstream, because it has not been converted.

Dr Németh said: “As interest grows in non-pharmacological approaches to disease prevention, this opens up exciting possibilities for using edible medicinal mushrooms as complementary agents in diabetes management.”

Previous studies have shown fungi to contain medically important components such as polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenols, and heterocyclic amines. 

Mushroom extracts “have anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumour effects”, the Semmelweis team wrote in their study.

They found that polysaccharides – different types of sugar – in the white button mushroom can boost good gut bacteria in the human body.

Sugars in the lion’s mane mushroom are an antioxidant, while the shiitake mushroom has chemicals linked to reducing blood glucose levels and anti-inflammatory effects.

The researchers wrote: “Edible mushrooms, including medical mushrooms, are an important part of nutrition. They are a good source of fibre, vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements, but the most investigated are the water-soluble composites: polysaccharides.

“Polysaccharides have complex effects on the human body. They favourably modulate the intestinal microbiota, glucose, and lipid homeostasis, as well as the immune system, the combined effect of which can reduce insulin resistance.

“These effects make mushrooms, especially medicinal mushrooms, a potential part of complementary therapy for obesity and related diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes.”

The research was published by the international Journal of Molecular Sciences.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/25/mushrooms-could-be-used-to-treat-diabetes/

Broccoli sprout compound can help fend off type 2 diabetes

From newatlas.com

The antioxidant sulforaphane, which is found in broccoli sprouts in high concentrations, can improve blood sugar levels in some people with prediabetes, according to new research. The findings suggest a need to personalize the treatment of the condition, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Broccoli is a nutrient-dense food with proven health benefits. Previous research has found that it can help prevent cancer, maintain heart and digestive health, and improve blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics.

                     Prediabetics who took broccoli sprout extract had improved fasting blood sugar                                                                                  levels

Depositphotos original modified by DALL-E

A new study led by researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that one of the vegetable’s standout compounds, the antioxidant sulforaphane, also improved blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes, the precursor to type 2 diabetes (T2D).

“The treatment of prediabetes is currently lacking in many respects, but these new findings open the way for possible precision treatment using sulforaphane extracted from broccoli as a functional food,” said Anders Rosengren, a professor in the University’s Department of Neuroscience and Physiology and the study’s corresponding author. Rosengren was the corresponding author in previous research on the effect of sulforaphane on blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. “However, lifestyle factors remain the foundation of any treatment for prediabetes, including exercise, healthy eating, and weight loss.”

                                                    Insulin resistance is a feature of prediabetes           

Depositphotos

Prediabetes is characterized by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels but not so high that they warrant a diagnosis of T2D. It usually occurs in people who have a degree of insulin resistance or whose pancreatic beta cells aren’t making enough insulin to keep blood sugars in the normal range. Current treatment of prediabetes is directed at modifying lifestyle factors such as improving diet and increasing physical activity. In some cases, medication is used to lower blood sugar levels.

A common way of screening for prediabetes is by measuring a person’s fasting blood glucose level, which is blood sugar unaffected by food and/or drink. A normal fasting glucose is usually below 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL), while a level above 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) typically indicates diabetes. In prediabetics, fasting glucose levels usually sit between these two values. For the present study, 89 individuals with an impaired fasting glucose of between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L were recruited. Participants were overweight or obese, had an average age of 63 and an average fasting blood glucose of 6.4 mmol/L. Sixty-four per cent of participants were male.

The participants were randomized to receive broccoli sprout extract (BSE), a concentrated form of the bioactive compounds found in broccoli, particularly sulforaphane, for 12 weeks. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was in which group. Broccoli sprouts can contain up to 100 times more sulforaphane than mature broccoli. Only 74 participants completed all stages of the study; 15 (nine in the BSE group and six in the placebo group) dropped out due to gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting, reflux, and diarrhea.

At the end of the 12 weeks, the BSE group had a greater average reduction in fasting blood glucose than those receiving placebo, with a mean difference of 0.2 mmol/L between the groups. A particular clinical subgroup of 13 participants had a “pronounced response” to BSE: those with mild obesity, low insulin resistance, and reduced fasting blood glucose levels. Their average reduction in fasting blood glucose was 0.4 mmol/L. The researchers called these participants ‘responders.’

The researchers used stool samples collected from participants before and after treatment with BSE or placebo and analyzed their gut microbiome. The 13 ‘responders’ were found to have a significantly different gut microbiome composition at baseline that – interestingly – didn’t change after treatment. Eleven of them belonged to the clinical subgroup mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Belonging to this sub-group, in combination with the difference in gut bacteria, produced the largest reduction in fasting blood glucose in response to BSE treatment: 0.7 mmol/L.

            The study's findings suggest personalized treatment of prediabetes is warranted

Depositphotos

While the study’s full cohort didn’t reach the primary outcome the researchers hoped for – a 0.3 mmol/L reduction in fasting blood sugar – they said their findings were important nonetheless.

“This trial shows that the response to sulforaphane-containing BSE in individuals with impaired fasting glucose differs based on the host pathophysiology and gut microbiota,” said the researchers. “Taken together, this indicates a need to personalize interventions in prediabetes, considering that many compounds have moderate overall efficacy but considerable impact in certain subgroups, and these findings represent a step towards precision treatment of prediabetes based on the individual pathophysiology and gut microbiota.”

One of the study’s limitations, namely that the 12-week treatment time didn’t allow for analysis of the long-term effects of BSE on blood sugar control, would need to be addressed in future studies. As would the small sample size.

For prediabetics who don’t like the taste of broccoli but still want to avail themselves of the potential blood-sugar-lowering effects of sulforaphane, a simple internet search for ‘sulforaphane supplements’ will direct you to retailers who sell the antioxidant in capsule form. Don’t go overboard, though – keep in mind the reason people dropped out of this study early.

The study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

Source: University of Gothenburg

https://newatlas.com/diabetes/broccoli-sulforaphane-prediabetes/