From the Guidelines
No, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not caused by a 2.5 cm bacteria in the pancreas. This claim is completely false. Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by a combination of insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. The main risk factors include genetics, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, and advancing age.
Key Points
- The pancreas itself is only about 6 inches (15 cm) long, so a 2.5 cm bacteria would be implausibly large - most bacteria are microscopic, measuring only a few micrometers.
- While research has shown connections between gut microbiota composition and diabetes risk, this involves normal-sized bacteria in the intestines, not large organisms in the pancreas.
- The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes is well-established in medical science as a metabolic disorder involving complex interactions between genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors, not an infection by an unusually large bacterium, as supported by the most recent study 1.
Risk Factors
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Poor diet
- Advancing age
Diagnosis and Classification
- Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90–95% of all diabetes, as stated in the latest guidelines 1.
- It is characterized by relative insulin deficiency and insulin resistance.
- The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is based on criteria such as fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test, and A1C levels, as outlined in the standards of medical care in diabetes 1.
From the Research
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is caused by a combination of defective insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells and the inability of insulin-sensitive tissues to respond appropriately to insulin 2
- Environmental factors, such as obesity, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity, contribute to the development of T2DM 3, 4
- Genetic factors also play a role in the development of T2DM 3, 2
Role of Bacteria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- There is no evidence to suggest that a 2.5 cm bacteria found in the pancreas causes type 2 diabetes mellitus 5, 3, 6, 2, 4
- Gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance of the gut microbiome, has been linked to the development of T2DM, but there is no specific evidence to support the claim of a 2.5 cm bacteria being a cause of the disease 2
Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- T2DM is characterized by chronically elevated blood glucose and elevated blood insulin 6
- The disease is caused by a complex interplay of multiple pathophysiological disturbances, including insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and pancreatic β-cell failure 3, 2
- Treatments for T2DM aim to improve glycemic control, reduce blood insulin levels, and address the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease 5, 6, 4