From diabetes

Diabetes can increase a person's risk of some types of liver disease. For example, poorly controlled blood sugar increases our risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to scarring of the liver (nonalcoholic cirrhosis). Other medical conditions related to diabetes, such as high cholesterol and obesity, also increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, some medications used to treat these related conditions, such as cholesterol lowering drugs, may cause liver damage.

Diabetes is associated with some types of liver disease. For example, poorly controlled blood sugar can increase your risk of non alcoholic fatty liver disease, also called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. This can lead to scarring of the liver (nonalcoholic cirrhosis). Also, some medications used to treat complications of diabetes, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, may cause liver damage.

On the other hand, some types of liver disease, such as hemochromatosis, increase the risk of diabetes. Also, some medications used to treat liver disease may increase blood sugar levels enough to require treatment. These include steroids and lamivudine.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects all age groups, including children. Most often, it's diagnosed in middle-aged people who are overweight or obese, and who may have diabetes and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. With the increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes in Western countries, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become a growing problem. Although its true prevalence is unknown, some estimates suggest it may affect as many as one-third of adults.

Because early-stage nonalcoholic fatty liver disease rarely causes any symptoms, it's often detected because of abnormal results of liver tests done for unrelated issues. Treatments for fatty liver disease include weight loss, exercise, improved diabetes control and the use of cholesterol-lowering medications.

Causes for diabetes include:
- Obesity, particularly around the waist (abdominal)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- One or more abnormal cholesterol levels, such as high levels of triglycerides, a type of blood fat
- low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol
- Resistance to insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate the amount of sugar in your blood

If your body mass index is above 25, a diet and exercise program may reduce the amount of accumulated fat in your liver.

Strict management of diabetes with diet, medications or insulin lowers blood sugar, prevents further liver damage and may also reduces the amount of accumulated fat in the liver.

For patients with diabetes who receive oral medications, there is a concern about toxicity in the liver. The risk for developing liver disease and liver cancer is highest among patients with long-standing (10+ years since diagnosis) diabetes. The increased risk is independent of alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis and demographic features

For diabetic patients, the best defense against liver disease is:

- Tight control of blood sugar levels
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing high cholesterol
- Avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol

Doctors may also recommend regular testing of liver function if one is taking medications that could potentially affect the liver.