I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes (A1C 6.1) in February and my doctor said I needed to make significant changes or start medication. I chose keto. Just got my 6-month labs and wanted to share real outcomes, not theoretical ones.
February: A1C 6.1, fasting glucose 112, triglycerides 248, HDL 44, weight 231 lbs, blood pressure 138/88
August (6 months): A1C 5.3, fasting glucose 84, triglycerides 91, HDL 67, weight 194 lbs, blood pressure 121/76
A1C went from pre-diabetic to solidly normal. Triglycerides dropped 63%. HDL increased 52%. Lost 37 lbs. My doctor said: "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it." She then asked me to explain keto to her.
Triglycerides dropping from 248 to 91 is the single most reliable marker of dietary carbohydrate reduction. High triglycerides are almost always a diet problem, not a genetic one. The A1C improvement to 5.3 in 6 months should be shared with anyone who thinks diabetes reversal takes years.
I had almost identical results two years ago — pre-diabetic, then normal A1C within 5 months. The mainstream advice of "eat less fat, exercise more" would not have achieved this. Diet change was the intervention.