While some bacteria are bad for us — think e. coli — other bacteria are very good for us. Inside our bodies these good bacteria help keep the bad guys’ numbers down. “Friendly” bacteria, or “probiotics,” are found in the active cultures of yogurt and other fermented dairy products and are also sold in supplement form. Some research has shown that probiotics may help prevent and treat yeast infections — which high blood sugars can trigger — and they may also boost immunity, alleviate inflammation, aid in the treatment of diarrhea, and mitigate hypersensitivities such as food allergies and skin conditions.

Probiotics are gaining popularity in the medical community as an adjunct treatment to antibiotics. Probiotics can help to offset some of the side effects of antibiotics by repopulating the digestive tract with the healthy bacteria the drugs destroy. In a recent NewsWire press release, Dr. Benjamin Kligler said, “With the level of evidence that probiotics work, we see no good reason not to prescribe probiotics when prescribing antibiotics. The only drawback is that probiotics are not covered by health insurance.” Kligler, associate professor of clinical family and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, led a recent study investigating the value of probiotics.

Diabetes adds a layer of complication to even the most common medical problems, but the right defense can make all the difference in your recovery. You can find probiotics in the supplements section of your grocery store, health food store, or pharmacy. You can also find a probiotic and digestive enzyme supplement; click here and select digestive health on the Nutrametrix webportal and then the product. To get the most out of your yogurt, look for a statement on the package indicating that the product contains live and active cultures.
— Kate Horowitz from DLife.com

SOURCES:
1 - Kligler B., and A. Cohrssen. 2008. Probiotics. American Family Physician 78, no. 9 (November 1). (Accessed 12/29/08.)

2 - NCCAM Health Information. An Introduction to Probiotics. (Accessed 1/09/09.)

3 - MayoClinic.Com. Probiotics. What Are They? (Accessed 1/09/09.)