Dietary Modulation of the Gut Microbiome: A Promising Approach for Management of Diabetes

The gut microbiome has emerged as a critical regulator of host metabolism, immune function, and energy homeostasis, offering novel opportunities for the prevention and management of metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Dietary modulation represents a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to reshape gut microbial composition and functionality, thereby improving glycemic control and metabolic outcomes. Diets rich in fiber, polyphenols, fermented foods, and prebiotic compounds have been shown to enhance the abundance of beneficial bacteria species such as Bifidobacterium promote short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and reduce systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. Conversely, high-fat and high-sugar Western-style diets are associated with dysbiosis, impaired gut barrier integrity, and metabolic endotoxemia, which exacerbate hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Emerging evidence from clinical and experimental studies indicates that targeted dietary interventions, including the Mediterranean diet, plant-based diets, and functional food supplementation, can modulate gut microbiota diversity and metabolic pathways, supporting their therapeutic potential in diabetes management. This review highlights current knowledge on relationship between gut microbiome and diabetes, and offers new insights into potential preventive or therapeutic approaches that uses dietary modulation of the gut microbiome as a safe and effective adjunct to the clinical management of diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes, Diet, Gut, Microbiome, Modulation