A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet may improve how the pancreas functions in individuals with type 2 diabetes, a study indicates. Patients following this diet showed signs of reduced stress on insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. According to lead researcher Marian Yurchishin, these improvements were associated with changes in the proinsulin-C-peptide ratio, a biomarker of pancreas stress.
" However, the findings are based on a small, short-term study and do not prove that type 2 diabetes can be reversed through diet alone. Further research is needed to determine whether ketogenic diets could play a longer-term role in improving pancreatic function or disease outcomes, as it remains unknown if this approach can reverse the condition long-term. Separately, a ketogenic diet has been linked to potential negative effects, including higher cholesterol levels and reductions in beneficial gut bacteria after 12 weeks.
It may support weight loss but could also harm metabolic health in some individuals, with participants showing changes in gut microbiome composition, such as a reduction in bacteria linked to digestive and immune health. Outside of major interventions like bariatric surgery or significant weight loss, few treatments are known to directly improve beta-cell function. Additionally, a high-fat ketogenic diet could restore exercise benefits typically lost by those with hyperglycaemia.
The long-term effects on pancreatic function and the overall balance of benefits and risks for individuals with type 2 diabetes are still unclear.