There is a link between diabetes and the pancreas since diabetes is caused by damage to the pancreas. However, you might be wondering how the liver fits into this picture. Here is the response to your query.
Diabetes raises the risk of kidney illness, blood vessel damage, infections, heart disease, nerve damage, and blindness. But you may be surprised to learn that diabetes can also have a significant impact on the liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has affected up to one-third of adult diabetes patients in industrialized countries.
Let’s know, What is NAFLD?
NAFLD is a broad term that encompasses numerous subtypes of liver disorders and clinically distinct illnesses, such as fatty liver and more serious steatohepatitis (NASH), which can develop into liver cirrhosis and, in rare circumstances, liver cancer.
NAFLD is more likely in people who have type 2 diabetes. When blood tests for liver function are consistently and chronically raised and all other assessments for the source of the elevations are unclear, liver experts may prescribe a liver biopsy.
Dr. Gaurav Gupta is an experienced liver specialist in Mumbai. He has treated many individuals with complicated liver disorders. If you have diabetes and are concerned about the possibility of liver damage, please consult Dr. Gaurav Gupta.
What are the Effects of Diabetes on the Liver?
As the number of diabetes patients with heart disease rises, diabetes patients with liver problems increases. It’s almost twice as high as suffering a heart attack or stroke. Diabetes patients are more likely to develop severe fibrosis (thickening and scarring of connective tissue).
According to a study, cirrhosis is also responsible for 12.5 percent of mortality in diabetes patients. NAFLD is the cause of liver failure in the majority of patients presenting for liver transplantation.
With each stage of liver disease, a patient’s prognosis worsens. However, not everyone’s liver disease worsens.
What Are Possible Treatments?
According to several studies, weight loss reduces liver fat; hence is the most recommended treatment. Liver specialists suggest low-glycemic and low-calorie diets that result in weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds. Also, they recommend avoiding low-fat diets.
In people with type 2 diabetes with NAFLD, diet and exercise ( lifestyle modification) play a major role in the treatment of patients. Liver injury due to NAFLD is reversible in the early stage of liver disease. As the liver injury progresses it can lead to irreversible damage to the liver called Liver Cirrhosis.
Also, because of its toxic effects on the liver and high-calorie content, alcohol should be avoided at all costs. Daily exercises improve everyone’s insulin activity. Some drugs that are used to treat diabetes can also be beneficial to the liver.
Conclusion
Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, and hypothyroidism are all components of metabolic syndrome. These not only affect our heart and brain but also damage our Liver. We need to follow a healthy lifestyle with exercise to protect our liver.