Enabling Glycemic Control Using the Gut Microbiome for Type 2 & Pre Diabetes

Do genetic, metabolomic or microbiome variants or other types of personalized nutrition prescriptions influence glycemic or other diabetes related outcomes? This session will present the results of the Mayo Clinic’s ground-breaking 327-person clinical trial that answered the following question: Is glycemic response to food better managed by considering the unique characteristics of individuals or by focusing exclusively on caloric or carbohydrate intake? The study tested the efficacy of a predictive model in personalized glycemic response to foods that considered elements such as food and the microbiome. It showed promising means for designing effective nutritional interventions. Most importantly, though, the study shows that an individualized approach to predicting blood glucose levels outperformed the traditional approach of solely watching calories and carbohydrates for maintaining healthy glycemic levels. After completing this session, participants will be able to: (1) Articulate what is the microbiome, (2) Understand the role of the microbiome in mediating chronic disease, and (3) Understand how food-as-medicine reduces healthcare costs.