Two-Thirds of Type 2 Diabetics Also Suffer Hidden Liver Disease
A staggering two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes could be harbouring a deadly secret: fatty liver disease, warns the British Liver Trust. Shockingly, many are unaware they suffer from both conditions.
Diabetes Explosion Set to Fuel Liver Disease Crisis
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) predicts over 5 million UK adults will have diabetes by 2025. This alarming surge threatens to trigger a wave of fatty liver disease cases across the country.
Fatty liver disease, medically dubbed MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), occurs when excess fat floods the liver. Left unchecked, it can escalate into MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis) — a severe condition potentially leading to liver failure or cancer.
Obesity: The Double-Edged Sword of Diabetes and Liver Disease
Obesity lies at the heart of both conditions. Experts warn that by 2040, 21 million UK adults could be obese, amplifying risks even further.
Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Communications and Policy at the British Liver Trust, stresses the need for urgent action: “For those diagnosed with fatty liver disease, losing just 5 to 10% of body weight through diet changes can control or even reverse the condition.”
Double Trouble: How Fatty Liver Fuels Diabetes and Heart Risks
Fatty liver disease dramatically raises type 2 diabetes risk. Diabetes strikes when the body fails to produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work properly. A 2022 Diabetes UK study confirms higher liver fat means a higher chance of developing diabetes.
“Living with both fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes increases the chance of severe complications, including heart disease,” warns Vanessa Hebditch. “Early diagnosis and lifestyle changes are crucial.”
Protect Your Liver – Know Your Risks
Excess weight, alcohol misuse, and viral hepatitis top the list of liver disease risk factors. Want to find out if you’re at risk? Take the British Liver Trust’s liver disease risk assessment online.
