Some people in Germany who ate only meat saw their blood sugar and fat levels get better, especially if they started with high levels — but not everyone improved, and the group as a whole didn’t change enough to be sure it wasn’t just chance.

What we've found so far is that the evidence leans toward the possibility that a carnivore diet might improve blood sugar and triglyceride levels in some people with pre-diabetes or high blood fats [1]. However, the improvements were not consistent across everyone, and the overall changes in the group were small enough that we can’t rule out chance [1]. Our analysis of the available research shows that in one set of observations from Germany, individuals who ate only meat saw improvements in their blood sugar and fat levels, particularly those who started with higher-than-normal levels [1]. This suggests that for certain people, cutting out all plant foods and eating only animal products may be linked to better metabolic markers. Still, not everyone responded the same way—some did not improve at all [1]. And when looking at the group as a whole, the average change wasn’t large enough for us to say confidently that the diet caused the shift [1]. Based on what we’ve reviewed so far, we can’t conclude that the carnivore diet reliably improves these health markers for most people. The evidence is limited to one line of observation with no comparisons or long-term data, so we don’t know how lasting or safe these changes might be. There’s also no data on how this approach compares to other diets or lifestyle changes. Because the evidence is narrow and based on a single assertion, we remain cautious. We don’t yet know who might benefit, who might not, or whether other risks could outweigh the potential gains. Practical takeaway: If you have pre-diabetes or high blood fats, a strict meat-only diet might shift some numbers for a few people, but it’s not a sure fix—and it may not work for you.