Periodic ketogenic diet (KD) intake can control body weight as well as blood glucose and lipid in the overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, long-term persistence is difficult.

• This study involved randomization of 60 overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed as T2DM into two groups: KD group, which was administered ketogenic diet, and control group, which had routine diet for diabetes, 30 cases in each group; both dietary patterns lasted 12 weeks.

• Post-intervention decrease in weight, BMI(body mass index), Waist, TG (triglyceride), TC(cholesterol), LDL (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), FBG (fasting glucose), FINS (fasting insulin), HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) was achieved for both groups, while the reduction rates in the KD group was more significant relative to the control group.

• However, an upward trend of serum uric acid was observed in the KD group, while no significant change occurred in the control group.

• Long-term willingness to adhere to the ketogenic diet was weaker, compared to the routine diet for diabetes.