Diabetes

A liver that isn't working properly can cause diabetes. Research has shown having diabetes may cause liver disease. That's why it's vital people with diabetes talk to their GP about the health of their liver. 

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin, or when the body can’t effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the body’s cells to produce energy. All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose in the blood. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells. 

If the body can’t produce insulin or use it effectively, glucose levels in the blood increase. This is known as hyperglycaemia. Long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues such as the liver. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetes raises your risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that occurs in at least 50 percent of people with type two diabetes. 

Healthy eating is an essential part of managing type one and type two diabetes. Finding a balance between this, physical activity and insulin or medication is important. Healthy eating and exercise is also an important part of managing other liver conditions.