Steatotic liver disease increases risk of diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy in T2D patients: Study

A new study published in the journal of Frontiers in Endocrinology showed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have steatotic liver disease (SLD) are more likely to experience diabetic microvascular complications.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is rising globally and presents a significant public health concern. According to the most recent Delphi consensus statement, steatotic liver disease is the general term used to refer to the several causes of steatosis, including alcoholic and metabolic- related steatosis.

Although there is little longitudinal evidence in large samples, cross-sectional studies have shown that steatotic liver disease is linked to common diabetic microvascular problems. Thus, this study examined whether glycemic control acted as a mediating factor in the relationship between SLDs and the risk of microvascular problems in patients with type 2 diabetes in a prospective manner.

At baseline, there were 25,630 T2D patients in the population-based cohort, which was based on the UK Biobank project. A fatty liver index of 60 or more was considered SLD. Poor glycemic control was defined as a glycated hemoglobin level of > 7% (53 mmol/mol). Total incidence diabetic microvascular problems, which are the first manifestations of diabetes retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and/or diabetic nephropathy, were the main result. To investigate whether glycemic control mediated the relationship between SLDs and diabetic microvascular problems, mediation analysis was used.