Research

Hormonal

In type 2 diabetes, the presence of fatty liver is strongly correlated with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and is associated with significantly higher insulin resistance, elevated plasma free fatty acids, and more severe dyslipidemia compared to diabetic patients without fatty liver.

If you have type 2 diabetes, getting a fatty liver is common and strongly linked to visceral fat and insulin resistance. It is not just about overall weight but specifically where fat is stored (visceral) and in the liver/muscle. This condition worsens insulin resistance and lipid profiles, so managing visceral adiposity is key to mitigating these risks.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Fatty liver was most strongly correlated with VAT (r = -0.57, P < 0.0001)... Volunteers with type 2 DM and fatty liver were substantially more insulin resistant than those with type 2 DM but without fatty liver (P < 0.001) and had higher levels of plasma free fatty acids (P < 0.01) and more severe dyslipidemia (P < 0.01).
David E. Kelley et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2003

Why this rating

Observational study with rigorous measurement (glucose clamp, CT imaging) but no intervention.

Source

Fatty liver in type 2 diabetes mellitus: relation to regional adiposity, fatty acids, and insulin resistance

David E. Kelley et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2003

DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.00117.2003

cross_sectional · n=110Cited 424×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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