The Overlooked Risk of Liver Disease as a Diabetes Complication

Located under the diaphragm, the liver is one of the most important organs of the body. It performs many key functions, such as filtering blood, eliminating toxins, producing bile and storing glucose. As it stores glucose, the liver also plays a central role in regulating blood sugar levels in the body. 

A healthy liver helps maintain blood glucose levels within the normal ranges, whereas a damaged liver can increase fluctuations in the blood glucose levels and disrupt your diabetes management. Therefore, keeping your liver healthy is vital for managing diabetes. 

However, unlike other complications of diabetes like neuropathy and retinopathy, liver diseases are often overlooked, leading to an increased rate of liver diseases in the world. 

Liver Diseases and Diabetes: The Risks

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Out of these, NAFLD is most common in diabetes patients. 

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Diabetes

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition in which excess fat builds up in your liver. This condition is present in at least 50 to 70 percent of people with diabetes, but unlike other liver diseases, it is not linked to alcohol consumption.

Not only diabetes but also diabetes-related conditions like obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are known to increase the risk of developing NAFLD. Therefore, managing the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is extremely important. 

If not treated properly, it can raise the risk of liver inflammation or scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer, heart diseases and kidney diseases. 

When To See a Doctor?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease usually has no symptoms. However, there are certain signs that may indicate poor liver health, such as yellowish skin and eyes, pain and swelling in the abdomen region, swelling in the legs, itching in the skin, dark-coloured urine, pale or tar-coloured stool, chronic fatigue, nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, etc. 

If you experience any of these symptoms, you must consult your doctor immediately.

Even if you do not encounter any of these symptoms, it is crucial to screen yourself for potential liver complications on a regular basis if you have diabetes. 

Tips To Prevent and Manage Liver Diseases

If you have diabetes, you must protect your liver and prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from developing. Some of the tips that might help you are:

• Regulate your blood sugar levels with the help of medications and a dietary routine.
• Lose excess weight, as obesity is a leading risk factor for NAFLD.
• Eat a well-balanced, nutritious and fibre-rich diet. 
• Limit the intake of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. 
• Exercise consistently to burn the levels of triglycerides in the body. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises. 
• Control high blood pressure levels by exercising regularly and reducing sodium in the diet. Quitting smoking and limiting the intake of caffeine is also essential for regulating blood pressure levels.
• Restrict alcohol consumption to prevent damage to the liver cells.

In Summary

Liver disease is one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes. Having diabetes increases the risk of many liver diseases like non-fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, etc. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your liver healthy if you have diabetes. 

References

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24485856/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2653324/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/diabetes/faq-20058461
• https://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/liver-and-diabetes.html
• https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/30/3/734/25518/Spectrum-of-Liver-Disease-in-Type-2-Diabetes-and
• https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/liver-health-tips