Reversal of diabetic tractional retinal detachment attributed to keto diet

BMJ Case Rep. 2020 Oct 31;13(10):e235873. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-235873.

Abstract

A 40-year-old woman, known type 2 diabetes mellitus, obese (100 kg), on insulin (80 units), was under treatment for unstable proliferative diabetic retinopathy with extramacular tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in the left eye. At 1-year follow-up, she developed progression of TRD involving the macula in the left eye for which she was advised surgery. She did not follow-up for 6 months during which time she had adopted a coconut oil-rich ketogenic diet. She reported losing 25 kg body weight along with reversal of diabetes (Glycosylated Haemglobin (HbA1C) of 5.3% without insulin) in the interim. During this 2-year follow-up visit, it was found that there was complete resolution of macular detachment due to TRD in the left eye with stable vision. This was attributed to the impactful ketogenic diet.

Keywords: obesity (nutrition); retina.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / complications
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / diagnosis*
  • Diet / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Keto Acids / adverse effects*
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnosis*
  • Retinal Detachment / etiology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Keto Acids