Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41020034›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Type 2 Diabetes Remission: A Systematic Review.

Rajib Das, Nour Mohammad, Md Shaiful Islam, Sowmitra Das, Faisal Abdullah, Md Abdul Kader, Md Abdullah Al Mamun, Sourav Dutta, David Unwin, Istvan Mazak

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rajib DasEpidemiology, University of Chester, Chester, GBR.
Nour MohammadEndocrinology, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, Warwick, GBR.
Md Shaiful IslamGeneral Medicine, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset, GBR.
Sowmitra DasGeneral Medicine, Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust, Salford, GBR.
Faisal AbdullahGeneral Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, GBR.
Md Abdul KaderEpidemiology and Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, BGD.
Md Abdullah Al MamunBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University, Dhaka, BGD.
Sourav DuttaEmergency Medicine, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Maidstone, GBR.
David UnwinFaculty of Health Social Care and Medicine, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, GBR.
Istvan MazakRenal Medicine, Croydon University Hospital, Croydon, GBR.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence and healthcare costs. Despite the availability of pharmacological interventions, sustained glycemic control and disease remission remain challenging. Dietary strategies such as low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) and ketogenic diets (KDs) are gaining attention for their potential to improve metabolic parameters and induce T2DM remission. The objective of this review is to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets in the management and remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched using predefined keywords and filters. Studies included randomized and non-randomized clinical trials published in English within the last 24 years. Eligible studies involved adult T2DM patients on LCDs/KDs with a follow-up period of at least 12 months. The primary outcomes were T2DM remission, changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, body mass index (BMI), and secondary outcomes included blood pressure, lipid profiles, and adverse effects. Out of 124 initially identified studies, six studies met the inclusion criteria, with follow-up durations ranging from one to eight years. Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets led to significant reductions in HbA1c, body weight, BMI, and systolic blood pressure. In terms of long-term studies, remission rates were highest at one year (up to 62%) and declined to 13% by year five. Participants in the intervention groups also experienced reduced dependency on glucose-lowering and antihypertensive medications. Despite some weight regain and glycemic relapse over time, the overall metabolic improvements suggest a beneficial role of dietary intervention in T2DM management. Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets appear to be effective in improving metabolic outcomes and inducing remission in T2DM. These dietary interventions may serve as viable alternatives to pharmacological treatments or bariatric surgery, provided that long-term adherence and support mechanisms are in place. Further research is needed to address long-term safety, sustainability, and individualized dietary approaches.

Indexed as

classic ketogenic dietdiabetes mellitus type 2diabetes reversallow-carbohydrate diettype 2 diabetes remissionvery low-calorie diet

Identifiers

PMID41020034
PMCPMC12476234

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.