subject: Diabetes And Your Liver [print this page] The high blood sugar level in diabetes adds additional work load for the liver, endangering liver health. More than twelve percent of people with Type 2 diabetes also have liver diseases. Many studies suggest that the liver problems are associated with diabetes.
One of the many important functions of the liver is to regulate blood sugar levels. From the intestines, glucose or sugar goes to the liver to either be stored as glycogen or goes to the bloodstream to be delivered to the cells of the body. The cells need insulin before the glucose goes inside the cell to be used for ATP or cellular energy production. Insulin is metabolized in the liver where it promotes the production of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (bad cholesterol), glycogen and protein.
Insulin resistance, a condition when cells are no longer sensitive to insulin, causes an excess of insulin circulating in the body. Insulin resistance is more prevalent in people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. When there is more insulin ni the blood than there should be, more fats, proteins, cholesterol, LDLs, and glycogen are produced by the liver. Insulin resistance and the consistent elevation in blood sugar levels cause any one of a variety of liver problems.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFLD). NFLD is caused by the high blood sugar levels in diabetics. NFLD may not produce symptoms during the early stage. But NFLD increases the risk for more serious liver diseases like liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
Elevated liver enzymes. In diabetics, it is common to have elevated levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) and aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT). Elevation of these enzymes is a side effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs which is often used to manage diabetes.
Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is the advanced form of NFLD in which there is chronic liver inflammation and fat accumulation. Diabetics with NASH now have a higher risk of developing scarring of the liver or liver cirrhosis.
Liver Cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer is the most serious among the liver problems associated to type 2 diabetes. According to studies, diabetics have twice greater risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. The risk is far more prevalent in Type 2 diabetes.
Protecting your liver health is a must for any diabetic. You can support healthy liver functions by maintaining normal blood sugar levels, losing weight, eating less of high-cholesterol foods, maintaining normal blood pressure, and by saying no to any drinking of alcohol.
