How diabetes affects the liver

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Extract from the article: Diabetes is a problem with the regulation of sugar in the body, a dysfunction that leads to a disturbance in the distribution of fats by the liver, which can lead to liver overload or steatosis. Mathieu Kponou Tobossi, an expert in phyto-hepatology,

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Diabetes is a problem with the regulation of sugar in the body, a dysfunction that leads to a disturbance in the distribution of fats by the liver, which can lead to liver overload or steatosis. Mathieu Kponou Tobossi, an expert in phyto-hepatology, shows that the accumulation of fat in the liver can lead to inflammation that causes lesions, leaving progressive scars (fibrosis), the most serious and dreaded of which is cirrhosis of the liver. This in turn leads to other serious consequences, such as digestive haemorrhage and liver cancer.

The relationship between diabetes and liver health is bidirectional. « While diabetes can have a negative impact on the liver, liver dysfunction can also contribute to the development and progression of diabetes.The liver plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by producing and storing glucose.When the liver is compromised, it may not be able to regulate blood sugar levels properly, leading to increased levels and poorer control of diabetes », says Mathieu Kponou Tobossi, an expert in phyto-hepatology.

Professor Laurent Castera, a hepatologist at Beaujon Hospital in Clichy (France), shows that type 2 diabetics often have metabolic syndrome factors and therefore accumulate risk factors. Secondly, steatosis is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, the common denominator of which is insulin resistance. This leads to the accumulation of fatty acids in the liver and hence to steatosis.

One of the main ways diabetes affects the liver is by causing a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mathieu Tobossi, Expert in Phyto-hepatology explains that « NAFLD is characterised by the accumulation of excessive fat in the liver, leading to inflammation and potential damage to the liver. Studies suggest that people with diabetes are more likely to develop NAFLD due to insulin resistance and increased blood sugar levels ». 

In fact, studies have shown that up to 70% of people with type 2 diabetes have NAFLD.What's more, diabetes can also contribute to the progression of NAFLD to a more serious condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). « NASH is characterised by inflammation and damage to the liver, which can eventually lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer.The exact mechanisms of this progression are not yet fully understood, but it is accepted that insulin resistance, oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role », explains Mathieu Tobossi. 

In addition, diabetes can affect liver health by increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, a condition characterised by irreversible scarring of the liver. Diabetes can also worsen the effects of viral hepatitis, leading to more serious liver damage.

William O.