BIOL 488: Overview of Health Consequences in The Ketogenic Diet and Efficacy in Treating Type-2 Diabetes

The ketogenic diet is an increasingly popular tool for weight loss. It has shown benefits for Type II Diabetes patients in reducing the use of medication for treatment and keeping blood glucose levels to manageable levels. This approach to diabetes management is stunted, however, due to a multitude of adverse effects such as acidosis and atherogenic risk factors. Dietary trials were performed to assess the efficacy of both diets in reducing blood glucose levels and other against the contemporary western diet, composed of a moderate-carbohydrate and moderate-fat macronutrient profile. Upon completion, diabetic subjects in both the high-carbohydrate and low ketogenic diet should show a reduction in blood glucose in line with recommended levels. Ketogenic diet subjects will elicit several worrying symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, and ketoacidosis, along with higher total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. This trial supports previous studies that show a high risk involved with KD. High fiber whole food diets may provide similar benefits with Type II diabetic patients without associated risk factors. KDs should only be used clinically as an emergency solution when others are ineffective. This research underscores the need to assess quality of macronutrients along with their respective ratios relative to total caloric intake.