Volume 30, Issue 171, May 2026

The Impact of the Ketogenic Diet on Glycemic Control and Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Review of Current Literature

Adam Brożyna^♦, Agnieszka Mackiewicz², Aleksandra Pietrucień³, Natalia Kursa⁴, Katarzyna Bielak⁵, Krystian Woźniak⁶, Julia Witkowska⁷, Ksenia Jakubiak⁸, Mikołaj Kurczyński⁹, Monika Krasoń¹⁰

¹University Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 90-153, ul. Kopcińskiego 22, PL
²Medical Centre of Pabianice, Pabianice, 95-200, ul. Jana Pawła II 68, PL
³Medical Centre of Pabianice, Pabianice, 95-200, ul. Jana Pawła II 68, PL
⁴Central Teaching Hospital of The Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251 PL
⁵Military Clinical Hospital in Cracow, 30-901 Cracow, ul. Wrocławska 1-3, PL
⁶Central Teaching Hospital of The Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251 PL
⁷University Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 90-153, ul. Kopcińskiego 22, PL
⁸Central Teaching Hospital of The Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251 PL
⁹Central Teaching Hospital of The Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251 PL
¹⁰Central Teaching Hospital of The Medical University of Lodz: Łódź, 92-213, ul. Pomorska 251 PL

^♦Corresponding author
Adam Brożyna, Kilińskiego 33/6 Street, 90-256 Łódź, Poland

ABSTRACT

With type 2 diabetes (T2DM) becoming a global crisis, there is an urgent need for better ways to manage the disease through nutrition. While standard low-fat diets have been the norm for years, the ketogenic diet (KD)—which replaces carbs with healthy fats—is now showing much better results. This review looks at the latest research to see how a ketogenic approach affects blood sugar and heart health in diabetic patients. The findings show that the keto diet is highly effective at lowering HbA1c levels and often allows patients to reduce or even stop their medications, including insulin. Additionally, the diet helps with significant weight loss and improves cholesterol levels by raising "good" HDL and lowering triglycerides. Although some patients struggle with early side effects like the "keto flu" or find it hard to stick to the diet long-term, the overall evidence is very strong. We conclude that for many people with T2DM, shifting the body to burn fat rather than sugar is a safe and effective way to regain control of their health.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, ketogenic diet, glycemic control, insulin resistance, HbA1c, nutritional ketosis, metabolic health, low-carbohydrate diet, cardiovascular risk, nutritional intervention, therapeutic carbohydrate restriction, hyperinsulinemia

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e89ms3872

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Published: 21 May 2026