New study finds antibiotic use, even at low doses, could set stage for diabetes

Antibiotic overuse causing diabetes epidemic

They’re the miracle drugs that have been turned into monsters.

Antibiotics were the medical breakthrough that was going to wipe killers like tuberculosis and meningitis off the face of the earth.

But the mainstream has spent years forcing them down our throats for every little sniffle or cough. And now we’re learning about a dark and dangerous side of these meds that nobody ever imagined.

A frightening new study has proven that taking antibiotics can leave you with a potentially deadly case of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers are warning that just a few months’ worth of pills is all it takes to put you at risk. And taking one simple step before you fill that next prescription just may save your life.

A sledgehammer to the gutI’ve been sounding the alarm for years about the dangers of overprescribing antibiotics. And I’ve told you how antibiotic-resistant superbugs are fast becoming one of the leading causes of death in the United States,

But now Danish scientists have the smoking-gun proof that there’s another killer side effect to these drugs — type 2 diabetes.

And with the way these meds are handed out like candy, millions of us may be in the danger zone.

The new study, just published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found that people who filled just two to four prescriptions for antibiotics over 13 years increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 23 percent.

But get this — if you fill five prescriptions for antibiotics over the same 13-year period, you’re diabetes risk skyrockets by a shocking 53 percent!
Think about it — that’s just one prescription every two or three years. That’s a pretty small amount to trigger such a terrible outcome.

So how could a simple prescription for antibiotics leave you with type 2 diabetes?

You see, antibiotics don’t just kill the bacteria that are making you sick. They’re like a sledgehammer to your gut, and destroy the healthy bacteria in your stomach and intestines (that’s one of the reasons these meds can cause a bad case of diarrhea).

And, over time, by upsetting the balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract, antibiotics actually change how you process food. They alter how your body tolerates glucose and even uses insulin.

The next thing you know, you’re spending your days pricking your finger and swearing off sweets.

Now don’t get me wrong. There are times when you have no choice and absolutely must take an antibiotic.

And that’s where a high-quality probiotic can help stop the damage.

Probiotics deliver a fresh supply of healthy bacteria to your gut, help produce digestive enzymes, and most importantly, strengthen and fortify your immune system. (Make sure you take your probiotic at least two hours after your antibiotic.)

Aside from taking supplements, there are a bunch of probiotic-rich foods that can help shield your gut from antibiotics, such as kefir (a yogurt-type drink), miso soup, tempeh and even sauerkraut.

And remember, if you have a cold, bronchitis, sinus infection, sore throat, or any other condition that doesn’t require an antibiotic — don’t take one!

The common cold is a temporary inconvenience.

Diabetes, however, can stick with you for the rest of your life.

Sources:

“Antibiotic use tied to diabetes risk” Nicholas Bakalar, September 9, 2015, The New York Times, well.blogs.nytimes.com