Key takeaways
- Remission means an A1c below the diabetes range for at least 3 months without diabetes medicine. It is not a cure.
- In the large DiRECT study, about half of people on a structured weight-loss program were in remission after a year.
- Low-carb and keto patterns can lower blood sugar a lot, but usually need medicine changes first, with medical supervision.
- Time-restricted eating has limited evidence so far, and carnivore has no clinical trials behind it.
- Never change diabetes medicine on your own. Talk to your own doctor first.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes means blood sugar stays too high because the body doesn't use insulin well and, over time, may not make enough. Doctors now talk about "remission": an A1c below the diabetes range for at least 3 months without diabetes medicine. Remission is more likely soon after diagnosis and with real weight loss. In a large UK study (DiRECT), about half of the people on a structured weight-loss program were in remission after a year.
What "reverse" means here: improving the condition so your tests and symptoms get better (for type 2 diabetes, remission). Results vary from person to person, and your own doctor can tell you what's realistic for you.
5 diets compared
| Diet | What it is | What the page says | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermittent fasting | Going without food for set periods, e.g. 5:2 or alternate-day | May help some people reach remission; small trials, usually with weight loss | Dangerous low blood sugar if on diabetes medicine; must be supervised |
| Keto | Very low carb, usually under 20-50g a day | Can lower blood sugar and A1c a lot; some reach remission, mostly with close supervision | LDL cholesterol may rise; hard to sustain; SGLT2 medicines carry a rare ketoacidosis risk |
| Low-carb | Under about 130g carb a day, not as low as keto | Can lower A1c and reduce medicine need; accepted by the American Diabetes Association as one option | Cutting carbs can cause low blood sugar if on insulin or similar medicines |
| Time-restricted eating | Eating within a set window, e.g. 16:8 | Evidence is limited; small studies show modest blood sugar and weight improvements; not shown to cause remission on its own | Same medicine and pregnancy/eating-disorder cautions as fasting |
| Carnivore | Only animal foods, no plants | Nobody knows yet; some report lower blood sugar, but there are no clinical trials | LDL, lack of fiber, and long-term effects not studied; dangerous lows on insulin or sulfonylureas |
Does Intermittent Fasting Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
It may help some people reach remission. Small trials of intermittent fasting have reported remission in some people, usually along with weight loss. Fasting while on diabetes medicine can cause dangerous low blood sugar, so it must be supervised.
About intermittent fasting: Intermittent fasting means going without food for set periods, for example the 5:2 plan (two low-calorie days a week) or eating every other day. It mostly works by cutting calories overall, and in most trials it leads to about the same weight loss as ordinary calorie cutting.
Before you try it: Fasting isn't safe for everyone. Talk to your doctor first if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines (they can cause dangerous low blood sugar when you fast), are pregnant or breastfeeding, have had an eating disorder, or are under 18.
What doctors say in their videos
Does the Keto Diet Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
It can lower blood sugar and A1c a lot, and some people reach remission, mostly in programs with close medical supervision. Medicines usually need to be adjusted before starting.
About the ketogenic (keto) diet: A ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrate, usually under 20 to 50 grams a day, so the body burns more fat and makes ketones. It lowers blood sugar quickly. It can raise LDL cholesterol in some people, and many find it hard to keep up for a long time.
Before you try it: Talk to your doctor first if you take diabetes medicines (insulin and some pills can cause low blood sugar, and SGLT2 medicines such as Jardiance or Farxiga can cause a rare but serious problem called ketoacidosis on keto), take blood pressure medicine, have kidney or liver disease, or are pregnant.
What doctors say in their videos
Does a Low-Carb Diet Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
It can lower A1c and reduce the need for medicine, and the American Diabetes Association accepts it as one option. Remission is more likely with weight loss and a recent diagnosis.
About a low-carb diet: A low-carb diet cuts back on sugar, bread, rice, pasta and other starches, usually to under about 130 grams of carbohydrate a day, without going as low as keto. The American Diabetes Association lists it as one of several healthy eating patterns for people with diabetes.
Before you try it: If you take insulin or other medicines that lower blood sugar, cutting carbs can cause low blood sugar. Ask your doctor whether your doses need to change before you start.
What doctors say in their videos
Does Time-Restricted Eating Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
The evidence is limited. Small studies show modest improvements in blood sugar and weight; it hasn't been shown to cause remission on its own.
About time-restricted eating: Time-restricted eating means eating all your food within a set window each day, such as 8 or 10 hours (16:8 is a common version). It's a type of intermittent fasting. Some people eat less without counting calories, but in larger trials it gave about the same results as simply eating fewer calories.
Before you try it: Talk to your doctor first if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have had an eating disorder.
What doctors say in their videos
Does the Carnivore Diet Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
Nobody knows yet. Some people report lower blood sugar, but there are no clinical trials. Eating almost no carbs while on insulin or sulfonylureas can cause dangerous lows.
About the carnivore diet: A carnivore diet means eating only animal foods: meat, fish, eggs and sometimes dairy, with no plants. Because it has almost no carbohydrate, it lowers blood sugar. But there are almost no clinical trials on it; most of what we know comes from personal stories and surveys. Doctors raise concerns about LDL cholesterol, the lack of fiber, and long-term effects nobody has studied.
Before you try it: Talk to your doctor first, especially if you have high cholesterol, heart disease, kidney disease or gout, or take diabetes medicines. Ask about checking your cholesterol after a few months.
What doctors say in their videos
More doctor videos on type 2 diabetes
Videos from different doctors, newest first. They share their own views, which don't always agree, and we don't rank or endorse any of them.
Other health questions
Frequently asked questions
Is remission the same as a cure?
No. Remission means your A1c is below the diabetes range for at least 3 months without diabetes medicine. It can return, and results vary from person to person.
Do I need to stop my diabetes medicine to try one of these diets?
No, and never change diabetes medicine on your own. Medicines usually need to be adjusted before starting, especially with keto or fasting, so talk to your doctor first.
Which diet has the strongest evidence on this page?
Structured weight-loss programs and low-carb patterns have the most trial support described here. Time-restricted eating has limited evidence, and carnivore has no clinical trials.
Can fasting cause low blood sugar?
Yes, if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines. Fasting while on those medicines can cause dangerous low blood sugar, so it must be supervised.
What does "reverse" mean on this page?
Improving the condition so tests and symptoms get better — for type 2 diabetes, remission. Your own doctor can tell you what is realistic for you.
Sources
The main guidelines and studies behind this page. How we write our pages.
- Lean et al. Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT). The Lancet, 2018
- Riddle et al. Consensus report: definition and interpretation of remission in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2021
- Evert et al. Nutrition therapy for adults with diabetes or prediabetes: a consensus report. Diabetes Care, 2019
- de Cabo & Mattson. Effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 2019
- Liu et al. Calorie restriction with or without time-restricted eating in weight loss. New England Journal of Medicine, 2022
- Goldenberg et al. Low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2021
- Lennerz et al. Behavioral characteristics and self-reported health status among 2029 adults consuming a "carnivore diet". Current Developments in Nutrition, 2021
Written by DoctorsVideos.video as a general summary of published research, not by the doctors in the videos. For education only; it isn't medical advice. Talk to your own doctor before changing your diet or medicines. Last reviewed October 2026.