In this 2012 trial, seven days on a 400-calorie-per-day diet (VLCD) significantly improved glycemic control in diabetics by resolving impairments in insulin secretion.

This 2017 paper reviews the potential impact of ketogenic diets on cancer via a variety of potential mechanisms. Many of the direct downstream effects of glucose and/or insulin suppression reduce activation of pathways linked to tumor growth and proliferation. Additionally, a ketogenic diet may increase the effectiveness of the immune response to cancer cells.