Research
Energy balance
Ectopic fat deposition in the liver and pancreatic islets drives the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes through two vicious cycles: Cycle A (hepatic) causing hepatic insulin resistance, and Cycle B (islet) causing beta-cell dysfunction.
Type 2 diabetes is driven by fat accumulating in your liver and pancreas, not just by your pancreas 'failing'. By reducing overall calorie intake, you can remove this fat and break the cycle, potentially reversing the disease if caught early.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Muscle insulin resistance determines the rate at which fatty liver progresses, and ectopic fat deposition in liver and islet underlies the related dynamic defects of hepatic insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction.
Why this rating
Based on a synthesis of multiple prospective studies and mechanistic data.
Source
Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes: tracing the reverse route from cure to cause
Rachael W. Taylor · Diabetologia · 2008
DOI 10.1007/s00125-008-1116-7
narrative_reviewCited 350×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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