Reviewed by Dr. Eric Westman, MD, MHS (October 2025)
In a world where chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are on the rise, many people are looking for alternative solutions beyond traditional medication. The ketogenic diet, a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat eating plan, has emerged as a powerful tool for a growing number of individuals who have taken control of their health. By shifting the body’s primary fuel source from glucose to fat, a metabolic state known as ketosis is achieved. This shift has been shown to have profound effects on various health markers, and for many, it has led to the reversal of chronic conditions.
This article explores real-life success stories and the scientific principles behind how the ketogenic diet has helped people reclaim their health, with a special focus on the reversal of type 2 diabetes.
The Power of Ketosis: A Paradigm Shift in Metabolism
At its core, the ketogenic diet is about shifting the body from being fueled primarily by glucose (from carbohydrate) to being fueled primarily by fat. When carbohydrate intake is restricted to only a very small amount, fat becomes the main fuel, and ketones are generated as a byproduct of breaking down fat. These ketones can then be used by the brain and other organs for energy. This metabolic state has a number of effects, including:
- Improved Insulin Sensitivity: By dramatically reducing carbohydrate intake, the need for insulin decreases. Over time, this can lead to improved insulin sensitivity, which is a key factor in managing and reversing conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
- Stable Blood Sugar: Without a constant influx of carbohydrates, blood sugar levels remain more stable, eliminating the sharp spikes and crashes associated with high-carb diets.
- Reduced Inflammation: Research suggests that ketogenic diets have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with a range of conditions from joint pain to skin problems and even some neurological disorders.
Keto Success Stories Regarding Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterized by insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels. Many individuals have found that a ketogenic diet is not just a way to manage their condition, but to put it into remission.
Sharon’s Transformation: From Type 2 Diabetes & Fatty Liver to Excellent Health
At age 56, Sharon was living with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, high blood pressure, and she was taking 7 medications. Drawing the line at not wanting to take insulin, she started a keto diet and completely transformed her health and her body. She lost 75 pounds (34 kg), completely reversed NAFLD, now maintains a normal blood pressure, and her last HbA1c was 4.9 – well below the diabetic and even pre-diabetic range. She was also able to discontinue 3 of her medications, and her heartburn, headaches and joint pain are significantly decreased. Sharon’s story is inspiring proof that no matter how compromised you feel your health is – and no matter how far you may be from your goals – you can turn things around and have your best days ahead of you.
Betty’s Journey: From Obese & Sedentary to Slender & Active
Betty’s story shows that it’s never too late to change your life and you can be your best self at any age. Betty lost 100 pounds (45 kg) at 70 years old! Before keto, she had pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, brain fog, skin tags, and she led a sedentary life. Through following a keto diet, she was able to discontinue her blood pressure medication, her joint pain and skin tags are gone, her blood sugar is normal, and her thinking is sharp again. She happily walks 2-3 miles every day! Losing weight and improving your health can be a bit more difficult later in life, but you can do it!
Steve’s Story: Type 2 Diabetes & Medications Gone
Steve followed what he’d been told was a healthy diet: oatmeal for breakfast, lots of whole grains and fruit, and he kept red meat, butter, and eggs to a minimum. For all that effort, he developed type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, gout, joint pain, and asthma. He took 4 medications daily. At age 69, a keto diet – including generous amounts of meat, butter, and other foods he’d been avoiding for years – helped him lose 70 pounds (32 kg) and stop all medications. All his medical conditions are gone and he spends his days traveling and enjoying retirement with renewed energy and vitality.
Beyond Diabetes: Other Chronic Conditions
The benefits of the keto diet extend beyond blood sugar control. Many people have reported improvements in a wide range of chronic health issues.
- Weight Loss: The ketogenic diet is often lauded for its effectiveness in weight loss. Patients in my clinic have lost over 100 pounds (45 kg) – and some have lost far more – without battling hunger and cravings or feeling deprived. Because of the way it affects the body’s fueling, it controls appetite naturally, and weight loss happens without counting calories, macros, or points – and without having to white-knuckle through constant hunger.
- Neurological Health: The ketogenic diet was originally developed in the 1920s to treat epilepsy in children. It has been shown to reduce the excitability of neurons in the brain, and studies are exploring its potential in treating other neurological conditions, like migraine and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Mental Health: Countless stories are emerging of lifelong mental illnesses being put into remission with a ketogenic diet. Published research includes reports of people with major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia being free of these debilitating conditions within weeks of adopting a keto diet.
- PCOS and Fertility: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often struggle with insulin resistance. Keto diets have been shown to normalize hormones in women with PCOS – and even to restore fertility and facilitate healthy pregnancies even in women who had been unsuccessful with fertility treatments in the past. (If you have PCOS and you’re not looking to conceive, take preventive measures when you start a keto diet!)
- Inflammation and Pain: Many people report reductions in joint pain and other inflammatory conditions after adopting a keto diet – sometimes within just a few days of the diet change. The diet’s anti-inflammatory properties are a subject of ongoing research.
The Scientific Backing and Cautions
The success stories are more than mere anecdotes. They’re supported by very active current research as well as research that goes back decades. No one can claim that keto is a “fad.” A 2019 consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association stated that for people with diabetes, reducing overall carbohydrate intake has demonstrated the most evidence for improving blood sugar. Clinical trials show that following a very-low-carb keto diet can result in improvements in HbA1c and numerous other markers of metabolic health while people reduce or even eliminate diabetes medications.
However, if you have medical conditions – especially diabetes or hypertension – it’s imperative to have medical supervision when you start a ketogenic diet. This change is so powerful that medications may need to be reduced or stopped completely on the first day that carbohydrates are reduced. Keto can profoundly improve your health and quality of life – but you need to do it safely.
Conclusion
The stories of people who have reversed chronic conditions with a ketogenic diet are inspiring and compelling. They highlight the inseparable link between food and health. Keto may not cure everything, but it’s proven to be a life-changing intervention for many, offering a path to better health, a reduced reliance on medication, and a renewed sense of hope and control.
Reviewer Bio
Eric Westman, MD, MHS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University, the Medical Director of Adapt Your Life Academy and the founder of the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic in Durham, North Carolina. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and has a master’s degree in clinical research. As a past President of the Obesity Medicine Association and a Fellow of the Obesity Society, Dr. Westman was named “Bariatrician of the Year” for his work in advancing the field of obesity medicine. He is a best-selling author of several books relating to ketogenic diets as well as co-author on over 100 peer-reviewed publications related to ketogenic diets, type 2 diabetes, obesity, smoking cessation, and more. He is an internationally recognized expert on the therapeutic use of dietary carbohydrate restriction and has helped thousands of people in his clinic and far beyond, by way of his famous “Page 4” food list.
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