Efficacy of a low‐carbohydrate diet combined with exercise on glycemic control and metabolic health in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Pooled result · HbA1c (overall analysis)Result — go to the resultMD −0.18 % 95% CI −0.43 to 0.07Authors' conclusion
LCD + EX did not demonstrate significant overall improvements in glycemic control or body composition compared to NRD + EX in adults with T2DM. However, potential benefits were noted in lipid profiles and in shorter interventions. Future studies can focus on differences in metabolic outcomes among various types of LCD, enabling tailored clinical recommendations.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with T2D
- Participants
- 805 adults12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Low-carbohydrate diet with exercise (LCD + EX) vs non-carbohydrate-restricted diet with exercise (NRD + EX)
- Outcome
- HbA1c (overall analysis)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models
- Random-effects models
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
MD
−0.18 %
95% CI −0.43 to 0.07
P = 0.16
LCD + EXvs NRD + EX
MD −0.18 % (95% CI −0.43 to 0.07); P = 0.16
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (mmol/L) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose (overall analysis) | −0.30 (−0.67 to 0.07) | P = 0.11 | |
| Fasting glucose, subgroup intervention duration ≤6 months | −0.34 (−0.69 to 0.00) | P = 0.05 | |
| −1−0.500.5Difference, mmol/L (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (μIU/mL) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin levels (overall analysis) | −1.45 (−3.62 to 0.73) | P = 0.19 | |
| −4−202Difference, μIU/mL (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (arbitrary unit) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOMA-IR (overall analysis) | −0.17 (−0.46 to 0.11) | P = 0.23 | |
| −0.6−0.4−0.200.2Difference, arbitrary unit (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (%) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c, subgroup intervention duration ≤6 months | −0.30 (−0.57 to −0.03) | P = 0.03 | |
| −1−0.500.5Difference, % (linear scale) |
Body composition, blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-C
- No between-group differences for body composition, blood pressure, total cholesterol and LDL-C
HDL-C and TG
- Changes in HDL-C and TG favoured LCD + EX
Original publication
Efficacy of a low‐carbohydrate diet combined with exercise on glycemic control and metabolic health in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 19 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →