Human Faecal Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes

Inclusion Criteria: -All diabetic and control non-diabetic subjects (of same BMI) must comply with all the following inclusion criteria: * Ethnic background: Caucasian * BMI: 25 to 40 kg/m2 * Fasting blood glucose \> 7 mmol/L * Fasting Hemoglobin A1c \> 7% * Consume mainly typical Western diets daily * Having obtained his/her informed consent Lean non-diabetic healthy subjects must comply with the following inclusion criteria: * Ethnic background: Caucasian * BMI: 20 to 25 kg/m2 * Fasting blood glucose \< 5.5 mmol/L * Fasting Hemoglobin A1c \< 6 % * Consume mainly typical Western diets daily * Having obtained his/her informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Diabetic and healthy (same BMI) subjects representing one or more of the following criteria are excluded from participation in the study. * Dietary supplements or medications known to alter gut bacteria, such as antibiotic medication or intestinal transit modulators * People actively take cortisol or dexamethasone should be excluded from the study * People under a-amylase/a-glucosidase inhibitors should be excluded from the study. However, patients under metformin can be accepted for this study. * Patients under metformin suffering from gastrointestinal side effects within a 6-month time period prior to the trial * Regular consumption of fermented dairy products * Vegetarians * Frequent diarrhea (more than two loose stool per day) within 7 days before the enrollment * HIV seropositive * Having known gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, peptic ulcers and cancer * Patients who cannot be expected to comply with treatment * Currently participating or having participated in another clinical trial during the last 6 months prior to the beginning of this study * Females with hormone therapy will be excluded from the study Lean healthy subjects representing one or more of the following criteria are excluded from participation in the study. * Dietary supplements or medications known to alter gut bacteria, such as antibiotic medication or intestinal transit modulators * Regular consumption of fermented dairy products * Vegetarians * Frequent diarrhea (more than two loose stool per day) within 7 days before the enrollment * HIV seropositive * Having known gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, peptic ulcers and cancer * Patients who cannot be expected to comply with treatment * Currently participating or having participated in another clinical trial during the last 6 months prior to the beginning of this study * Females with hormone therapy will be excluded from the study