A new study found that a probiotic strain improved blood sugar control, insulin resistance and gut bacteria in mice with type 2 diabetes.
A probiotic strain called Lactobacillus plantarum LH36 improved blood glucose control and insulin resistance in mice with type 2 diabetes, according to a study highlighted by the European Medical Journal. ()
The findings also showed changes in gut bacteria, blood lipids and metabolic profiles after treatment. Researchers say the results point to a possible role for the probiotic as an additional approach to diabetes management, but the study was conducted in mice and has not established whether the same effects occur in people.
Probiotic Improved Blood Sugar in Diabetic Mice
Researchers tested L. plantarum LH36 in mice with type 2 diabetes that had been induced using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. After the probiotic was given orally, the mice showed improvements in blood glucose regulation and insulin resistance. The treatment was also associated with improvements in body weight, blood lipid levels and changes in tissue damage affecting the colon and liver.
The findings suggest that the effects of the probiotic may extend beyond blood sugar control.
Gut Microbiota Changed After Probiotic Treatment
The researchers also examined the animals’ intestinal microbiota. Treatment with L. plantarum LH36 increased measures of microbial richness, diversity and evenness. The researchers reported an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes, while disruptions involving genera including Lactobacillus and Butyrobacter were also partly restored.
These changes are relevant because the gut microbiome has been increasingly studied in relation to glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The study also found changes in several metabolites, including long-chain acylcarnitines, diacylglycerols and pentadecanoic acid. Researchers said these metabolic changes, together with the improvements in insulin resistance and blood lipids, may help explain how the probiotic affected glucose regulation.
What Does the Research Mean for People With Diabetes?
The findings are promising, but they are still at an early stage. The study used an experimentally induced mouse model rather than people with type 2 diabetes. Animal studies can help identify possible biological mechanisms, but results cannot automatically be applied to human treatment.
The researchers therefore concluded that L. plantarum LH36 could have potential as an adjunct treatment, while stressing that further research is needed to determine whether the benefits can be reproduced in humans.
Human Studies Are Also Examining Probiotics and Diabetes
Other research published in 2026 has reported improvements in some diabetes-related measures among people taking probiotic products.
A randomized controlled trial published in Food Science & Nutrition in January 2026 tested Bifidobacterium longum BL21 alongside metformin in people with type 2 diabetes. After 12 weeks, the probiotic group had a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c than the placebo group, although changes in fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance were not statistically significant.
Another 2026 clinical trial published in Frontiers in Endocrinology studied a probiotic derivative containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus DV lysate. After three months, participants receiving the intervention had a mean HbA1c reduction of 0.63 percentage points, while the placebo group showed an increase. The study also found a reduction in waist circumference and improvements in insulin sensitivity.
A separate prospective controlled trial published in BMC Nutrition in May 2026 found that three months of a multi-strain probiotic supplement significantly reduced post-meal blood glucose compared with the control group. The researchers also observed improvements in fasting glucose, HbA1c and some lipid measures within the probiotic group, although not all of these differences were statistically significant between groups.
Probiotics Are Not a Replacement for Diabetes Treatment
The growing research does not mean probiotics can replace established treatments for type 2 diabetes. The studies have used different bacterial strains, formulations, doses and treatment periods, making it difficult to determine which probiotics, if any, provide consistent clinical benefits. The evidence also remains limited by relatively small study populations and, in some cases, short follow-up periods.
For now, the new findings add to research exploring the relationship between the gut microbiome and type 2 diabetes. The L. plantarum LH36 study provides evidence from an animal model, while emerging human trials suggest that some probiotic formulations may influence blood glucose and other metabolic markers. Larger and longer clinical trials will be needed before probiotics can be considered a proven treatment option for diabetes.
References:
- Probiotic Improved Type 2 Diabetes Markers – (https://www.emjreviews.com/diabetes/news/probiotic-improved-type-2-diabetes-markers/)
Source-Medindia