Anti-Diabetic Intestinal Mechanisms: Foods, Herbs, and Western Medicines

The role of intestinal factors in the pathogenesis of diabetes, such as a decrease in the incretin effect, has recently attracted considerable attention. An imbalance in the gut microbiota inhibits the secretion of incretins, which are metabolic hormones can reduce blood glucose levels, and promotes the occurrence and development of diabetes. Numerous studies have demonstrated that foods are environmental factors that are important in the modulation of gut microbial-mediated glucose metabolism. In general, functional foods trigger the gut microbiota to produce beneficial metabolites or reduce harmful products through metabolic pathways and then regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Recent studies have shown that similar to functional foods, the regulatory effects of some herbs and Western medicines are closely related to alterations in the gut microbiota. In this review, the intestinal mechanism of foods, herbs, and Western medicine in affecting the process of glucose metabolism is summarized.