Keto May Help with Depression, Diabetes: Evidence from 3 Recent Studies

Recent research indicates the ketogenic diet may offer benefits for individuals with treatment-resistant depression and those managing type 2 diabetes. However, challenges related to long-term adherence to the diet are noted as important considerations.

Keto Diet Linked to Improvements in Depression

A clinical trial reported in February 2026 in JAMA Psychiatry examined the effects of a ketogenic diet on individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression. The study included 88 participants from the United Kingdom, ages 18 to 65, who scored 15 or more on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), indicating significant depression severity.

Participants were randomly assigned to either a ketogenic diet, restricting carbohydrate intake to 30 grams per day, or a control diet focused on phytochemicals for six weeks. After this period, they returned to their usual eating patterns. A follow-up at 12 weeks revealed that those adhering to the keto diet exhibited a greater reduction in depression symptoms, with scores dropping approximately 10 points compared to an 8-point decrease in the control group.

Lead researcher Min Gao, PhD, emphasizes that while these findings show promise, the ketogenic diet should not be regarded as a definitive treatment. The effects appear to be modest and require further exploration.

Promising Results in Blood Sugar Control

Another study published in February 2026 in Nature Communications assessed the impact of a ketogenic diet on blood sugar regulation in mouse models. This research involved comparing high-blood-sugar mice on a keto diet with those following a standard diet. The results demonstrated that mice on the keto diet successfully reverted to normal blood sugar levels.

Additionally, those high-blood-sugar mice who participated in exercise training while on the keto diet showed enhancements in aerobic capacity beyond those on the control diet. According to Sarah Lessard, PhD, from Virginia Tech, these findings suggest that combining a keto diet with exercise may yield improved health outcomes.

Experts, however, caution about the sustainability of the ketogenic diet. Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RDN, notes that long-term adherence is crucial for success in any dietary pattern.

Keto Diet’s Role in Diabetes Remission

Further evidence of the ketogenic diet’s potential benefits comes from a human study published in April 2026 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. This investigation involved 51 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, aged 35 to 65, who followed either a keto or a low-fat diet for 12 weeks.

All participants experienced some weight loss; however, only those on the ketogenic diet showed a significant decrease in proinsulin linked to C-peptide, suggesting enhanced function in beta cells that produce insulin. Study author Marian Yurchishin, MS, points out that lower proinsulin levels indicate improved beta-cell response to the demands for insulin, reflecting better glycemic control.

Yurchishin highlights that a carbohydrate-restricted diet may allow beta cells to regain functionality, yet emphasizes the need for additional research to determine the underlying mechanisms at play.

THE CNP TAKEAWAY

The ketogenic diet may provide short-term benefits for some individuals with treatment-resistant depression and support blood sugar control in diabetes. However, its long-term sustainability remains a significant challenge.

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