Liver
Your liver plays an important role in keeping your body healthy. It's jobs include:
- Breaking down food
- Providing energy
- Storing energy for later
- Storing vitamins, iron and other nutrients
- Helping to fight infections
- Removing toxins from the body
- Helping blood to clot and the body to heal
When blood glucose levels remain high over time, it can lead to a build-up of fat in the liver. This condition is known as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MASLD is more common in people with diabetes, particularly when blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels and weight are above healthy ranges.
In many cases, MASLD develops gradually and may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. Over time, however, excess fat in the liver can lead to inflammation and scarring, which may affect how well the liver works. This is why liver health is sometimes monitored as part of diabetes care.
The good news is that MASLD can often be improved or prevented by managing blood glucose levels, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure within target ranges. In more advanced cases, ongoing medical care may be needed to manage liver damage and prevent further complications.
See the list of resources below to help you keep your liver healthy.
