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A high–fat, low–carbohydrate diet could help improve how the pancreas functions in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Researchers found that patients following the eating plan – commonly known as keto – showed signs of reduced stress on insulin–producing cells, raising hopes it may support better disease management in some cases.
The ketogenic diet is designed to push the body into a metabolic state known as ketosis, in which it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
In the latest US study, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham analysed 51 adults with type 2 diabetes aged between 55 and 62.
Participants were placed on either a ketogenic or a low–fat diet, both structured to maintain body weight rather than promote weight loss.
Researchers then measured changes in a blood marker known as the proinsulin to C–peptide ratio, which reflects how hard the pancreas is working to produce insulin.
The results, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, showed that while both groups lost a modest amount of weight, those on the ketogenic diet experienced a greater improvement in this marker.
This suggests the keto diet may reduce stress on beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin.
The ketogenic diet is a high–fat, moderate–protein and very low–carbohydrate eating plan designed to force the body into a metabolic state called ketosis
‘We showed that three months of a ketogenic diet was able to improve beta–cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes,’ said lead researcher Marian Yurchishin.
‘These improvements were associated with changes in the proinsulin–C–peptide ratio, a biomarker of pancreas stress.’
She added that, outside of major interventions such as bariatric surgery or significant weight loss, there are currently few treatments known to directly improve beta–cell function.
However, experts stress the findings are based on a small, short–term study and do not prove that type 2 diabetes can be reversed through diet alone.
Type 2 diabetes affects around six million people in the UK and is closely linked to excess weight, inactivity and diet, although genetics also plays a role.
While lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise remain central to managing the condition, researchers say further studies are needed to determine whether ketogenic diets could play a longer–term role in improving pancreatic function or disease outcomes.
Separate research has also examined potential downsides of the keto diet.
A study from the University of Bath found that following a very low–carbohydrate ketogenic diet for 12 weeks was linked to higher cholesterol levels and reductions in beneficial gut bacteria.
The research suggested that while the diet may support weight loss, it could also have negative effects on metabolic health in some individuals.
Scientists found that participants on a ketogenic diet showed changes in gut microbiome composition, including a reduction in bacteria linked to digestive and immune health.
The study also raised concerns about increases in blood cholesterol levels, which are associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
Researchers stressed that responses to the diet varied between individuals and that longer–term effects remain unclear
