Diabetic liver disease is among the top causes of death in people with diabetes. In fact, cirrhosis accounts for 12.5% of the deaths in people with diabetes. In addition, diabetes is reported by the majority of studies to be the most common cause of liver disease in the U.S., according the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Any liver-related conditions can be found in diabetic liver disease. These include:
- Abnormal Liver Enzymes
- Acute Liver Failure
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Acute Liver Failure
In addition, there is an unknown association between diabetic liver disease and Hepatitis C. Currently, the prevalence of cirrhosis is 12.3-57% in diabetics. Cryptogenic cirrhosis is the most common cause of diabetic liver disease, and is the third leading indication for liver transplantation in the U.S. Furthermore, according to the Mayo-Clinic, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease occurs in at least half of diabetics with type-2 and close to half of the diabetics with type-1.
Preventing Diabetic Liver Disease
As you can see, taking steps to protect your liver from diabetic liver disease is a wise choice for a diabetic to make. According to US News, there are 5 steps that a person can take to protect their liver. They are:
Lose weight and exercise. Weight loss is important for preventing all types of diabetic liver disease, fatty liver disease especially. In fact, losing excess weight has been found to reverse fatty liver disease.
Improve your diet. A study performed on mice in 2007 indicates that diabetic liver disease is related to diets heavy in high-glycemic carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, concentrated sugar, and prepared breakfast cereals.
Drink a glass of wine.This doesn’t mean you should just give in and start drinking. Those who already have diabetic liver disease should avoid alcohol altogether. However, drinking a glass of wine a day may decrease your risk of diabetic liver disease by as much as half.
Don’t count on experimental treatments. According to USNews.com, studies on diabetic liver disease are currently showing contradictory findings. The use of newer diabetic medicines in patients with diabetic liver disease, such as metformin, rosiglitazone, and pioglitazoneshould still considered experimental at this point and be used with caution.
Get other medical conditions treated. Often people with diabetic liver disease have other medical problems such as hypertension and high cholesterol. Control these conditions and your body can concentrate on keeping your liver healthy. Talk to your doctor to learn how.
