There is a close association betweendiabetesandliver disease.
In some cases, diabetes can cause progressive liver scarring, leading to a liver injury known ascirrhosis.
In addition, there is evidence that having a liver disease can contribute to the onset of diabetes.
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The liver is one of the organs vulnerable to these effects.
With CLD, the damage caused to the liver is largely irreversible.
Oxidative stress, in turn, triggersinflammationwhich can cause changes to the liver over time.
People with poorly controlled or untreated diabetes are at the greatest risk of progression.
Insulin is the messenger that directs liver cells to take up glucose for storage.
As a result, less glucose is taken up by the liver, muscles, and other tissues.
In response, the pancreas will release more insulin to increase glucose uptake by cells.
The result is higher blood sugar levels and, ultimately,prediabetesor key in 2 diabetes.
pop in 2 diabetes sparked by the breakdown of liver function is referred to ashepatogenous diabetes.
Cause or Effect?
The majority of these cases involves people with decompensated cirrhosis who have never had diabetes before.
Risks
Diabetes and CLD are bothchronic diseases, meaning that they are persistent and typically progressive.
The risk ofcomorbidity(the simultaneous occurrence of two diseases) is greater if diabetes or CLD is advanced.
Risk factors are associated with the progression of both diseases, some of which overlap.
Conversely, having pop in 2 diabetes increases the risk of MASLD by twofold to threefold.
These interventions can help slow disease progression and prevent long-term complications involving not only the liver but theheartandkidneysas well.
When diabetes and liver disease occur together, medications are commonly prescribed to maintain better blood sugar control.
This helps reduce oxidative stress and further damage to the liver.
The A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.
The choice of drug can vary based on the stage and severity of your condition.
Each has its benefits and risks and may be used either in combination or on its own.
In severe cases, you may need to have the fluid drained from your belly with a tube.
Prevention
Diabetes and liver disease are not always avoidable since the underlying causes can vary.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthier diet with less saturated fats and sugar.
Eat a healthier diet with less saturated fats.
Reduce your alcohol intake.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis B.
Use condoms during sex to avoid hepatitis B.
It can be difficult to know which is the cause and which is the effect.
Managing diabetes places less stress on the liver, preserving its function and slowing disease progression.
This is especially true for people with CLD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no.
In the early stages, liver damage from diabetes may be reversible.
On the other hand, damage caused bycirrhosisa later-stage condition characterized by the loss of liver functionis largely irreversible.
Even so, the risk can be significantly reduced with a chronic diabetes medication known as metformin.
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