Should Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver be one of the markers for diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes?
It is a condition we’ve seen a lot recently presented by our patients as a concern!
The common factor among these patients is they all do not consume alcohol and yet their liver is behaving as if it is flooded with alcohol!
A new study published in February this year illustrating and stating the cause behind the almost epidemic Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) especially in the western world and the main causes of it is the Western Diet which has too much sugar.
Sugars come from many sources in day to day foods we consume and we may not even realise it!
Simple Carbohydrates, bad fats and highly processed foods are leading to the failure of the Hormone, Insulin, to do its job especially when they are over consumed.
If this circulating sugar (glucose) is not used by Insulin to give energy to every cell in our body it will end up as stored Fats in our liver.
The (NAFLD) is also closely linked to metabolic syndrome, which is a basically the poor ability of the body to use the Insulin.
Excessive levels of circulating fats get deposited in the liver, resulting in inflammation of the liver cells which damages the liver itself. Generally it may not cause any symptoms, but if left uncontrolled may result in Cirrhosis of the liver which was known to be caused mainly from excessive amount of alcohol consumed.
(NAFLD) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke!
Risk Factors to develop NAFLD include;
Type 2 diabetes
Overweight/Obesity
Hypertension
Alcohol and certain drugs.
People who are diagnosed with NAFLD are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular diseases and Cirrhosis of the liver.
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