Research
Hormonal
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), driven by hepatic insulin resistance, impaired beta-cell function, and lipotoxicity.
If you have been diagnosed with NAFLD, recognize it as a significant warning sign for type 2 diabetes. The presence of liver fat indicates underlying insulin resistance and beta-cell stress. Prioritize interventions that improve insulin sensitivity, such as weight loss and exercise, to mitigate this elevated risk.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
NAFLD is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D)... In NAFLD, not only the close association with obesity, but also the impairment of many metabolic pathways, including decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, increase the risk of developing T2D and related comorbidities.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 296,439 individuals and multiple longitudinal/cross-sectional studies cited.
Source
From NASH to diabetes and from diabetes to NASH: Mechanisms and treatment options
Amalia Gastaldelli et al. · JHEP Reports · 2019
DOI 10.1016/j.jhepr.2019.07.002
narrative_reviewCited 434×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Pioglitazone, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and SGLT-2 inhibitors are pharmacological agents with potential utility in managing NASH, though GLP-1RAs show more consistent evidence for histological improvement.Good
- DPP-IV inhibitors (e.g., sitagliptin) lack strong clinical evidence for improving NAFLD/NASH histology and may be ineffective in controlled trials, despite promising animal model data.Good
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