Ketogenic diet is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes

This study was published in Nutrition and Metabolism 2008 Dec 19;5:36

Study title and authors:

The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Westman EC, Yancy WS Jr, Mavropoulos JC, Marquart M, McDuffie JR.

Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. ewestman@duke.edu.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19099589

This 24 week study assessed the effects of two diets on 84 obese subjects with type 2 diabetes.

The two diets consisted of:
(i) Food of a low glycemic index, low calorie (each participant was assigned a diet designed to give them 500 calories a day less than they needed to maintain their weight), 55% carbohydrate diet. (Low glycemic index diet).
(ii) Food of less than 20 grams of carbohydrate a day, unlimited calorie intake and unlimited amounts of animal foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs. (Ketogenic diet).

The study found:
(a) Those on the ketogenic diet lost 61% more weight than those on the low glycemic index diet.
(b) Harmful high blood glucose levels reduced by an extra 24% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(c) Harmful high insulin levels reduced by an extra 172% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(d) Harmful high Hb1AC levels reduced by an extra 1% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(e) Harmful high blood pressure levels reduced by an extra 55% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(f) Harmful high triglyceride levels reduced by an extra 249% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(g) Harmful high very-low density lipoprotein  (VLDL) cholesterol levels were reduced by an extra 203% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(h) Healthy high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were increased by 5.6 mg/dL (.14 mmol/l) on the ketogenic diet, whereas there was no change on the low glycemic index diet.

(i) Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% in those on the ketogenic diet, whereas 62% of diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in those on the low glycemic index diet.

The study shows how a ketogenic diet gives greater improvements than a low glycemic index diet and is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Links to other studies:
High fat diet to treat diabetes
Meat offers protection from diabetes and has anti-aging properties
High fat, low carbohydrate diets are an effective tool in the treatment of diabetes