Curcumin (turmeric) & Type 2 diabetes

Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11.. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.

What people read

Posts online say that Curcumin (turmeric) helps with Type 2 diabetes.

What has been studied

• 38In people36 randomised trials
• 63In animals
• 3Only in the lab

What the studies found

!Curcumin (turmeric) has been tested in randomised trials in people with Type 2 diabetes.

We found 181 published papers on Curcumin (turmeric) and Type 2 diabetes. They were published between 2005 and 2026.

38 of them are studies in people (36 randomised trials), 56 are reviews, 63 are studies in animals and 3 are studies only in the lab. 1 paper was retracted.

The most important ones are listed under Sources.

Sources

1. Curcumin Supplementation Reduces Inflammation, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Antioxidant Status in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2026 · Int J Mol Sci · Randomised trial
2. Curcuma longa improves endothelial glycocalyx integrity and redox-inflammatory pathways in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.2026 · Eur J Nutr · Randomised trial
3. Curcumin Attenuates Liver Steatosis via Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025 · Int J Mol Sci · Randomised trial
4. Curcumin supplementation improves the clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk.2025 · Sci Rep · Randomised trial
5. Twelve-Week Curcumin Supplementation Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Gut Health in Prediabetic Older Adults: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.2025 · Nutrients · Randomised trial
6. Curcumin for Inflammation Control in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2025 · Nutrients · Randomised trial
7. Effect of adding fenofibrate versus curcumin to glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.2025 · BMC Pharmacol Toxicol · Randomised trial
8. Curcumin extract improves beta cell functions in obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.2024 · Nutr J · Randomised trial
9. The effect of curcumin-piperine supplementation on lipid profile, glycemic index, inflammation, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia.2024 · Phytother Res · Study in people
10. The Effect of Curcumin on Reducing Atherogenic Risks in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.2024 · Nutrients · Study in people
11. Nanotechnology-Enabled Delivery of trans-Resveratrol, Quercetin, and Curcumin for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.2026 · J Nutr · Review
12. Effects of Curcumin Supplementation on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.2026 · Nutrients · Review
13. The Use of Curcumin to Target Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives.2026 · Antioxidants (Basel) · Review
14. The Role of Anthocyanins, Curcumin, and Resveratrol in the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review.2026 · Molecules · Review
15. Curcumin/Turmeric Supplementation on Glycemic Control in Adults With Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.2026 · Food Sci Nutr · Review
16. Effects of Curcumin/Turmeric Supplementation on Lipid Profile in Subjects With Prediabetes and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.2026 · Lipids · Review
17. Curcumin modulates the adipose FBN1-Asprosin axis and improves metabolic dysfunction in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.2026 · Metabol Open · In animals
18. Curcumin enhances mycobacterial clearance in diabetes-tuberculosis by targeting the WNT6.2026 · Phytomedicine · In animals
19. Bivalent gambogic acid-functionalized curcumin nanoparticles with insulin modulate the gut-liver-kidney network in type 2 diabetes.2026 · J Control Release · In animals
20. Sex-specific efficacy of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles and insulin for ocular-cardiac complications in type 2 diabetes mice.2026 · iScience · In animals
21. Curcumin Improves Redox Status and Insulin Sensitivity in the Periphery and Decreases Leptin Receptor Expression in the Arcuate Nucleus in Obese Diabetic Mice.2026 · Mol Nutr Food Res · In animals
22. [Curcumin improves osteoporosis in type 2 diabetic mice by inhibiting RANBP3L expression].2026 · Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao · In animals
23. Curcumin and Cinnamaldehyde as PTP1B Inhibitors With Antidiabetic and Anticancer Potential.2019 · Anticancer Res · In the lab
24. Curcumin attenuates palmitate-induced apoptosis in MIN6 pancreatic β-cells through PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 and mitochondrial survival pathways.2015 · Apoptosis · In the lab
25. Epigenetic regulation of high glucose-induced proinflammatory cytokine production in monocytes by curcumin.2011 · J Nutr Biochem · In the lab
26. Effects of curcumin on glycemic control and lipid profile in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2019 · PLoS One · RetractedRetracted
27. Standardized curcumin formulations in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a precision adjunct strategy targeting bioavailability, glycemic control, and immunometabolic inflammation.2026 · Front Nutr · Other paper
28. Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking to investigate the potential role of curcumin targeting TGR5 to modulate the GLP-1 pathway in T2DM with obesity.2026 · Pak J Pharm Sci · Other paper
29. Computational Modeling of PI3K/AKT Pathway in Bipolar Disorder and Type 2 Diabetes: Implications for Lithium Treatment and Curcumin as a Potential Alternative.2025 · Int J Mol Sci · Other paper
30. The Effect of Subgingival Curcumin Gel With and Without Photodynamic Therapy as Adjunctive Periodontal Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Split-Mouth Clinical and Microbiological Study.2025 · Int J Dent · Other paper

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