In a new study from Yonsei University, researchers found nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to a higher risk for severe hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than normal. Glucose is your body’s main energy source. Hypoglycemia is often related to diabetes treatment.
In the study, the team explored the association of NAFLD with severe hypoglycemia among patients with type 2 diabetes.
The analysis included 1.9 million individuals (aged 20 years or older) who had a medical examination from January 2009 through December 2012, with follow-up through 2015.
The researchers found that 2.3% of people experienced one or more severe low blood sugar events, and those with severe low blood sugar were older and had lower mean body mass index versus those without severe low blood sugar.
When adjusting for multiple clinical factors, including body mass index, the team found there was a J-shaped association between the fatty liver and severe low blood sugar.
The estimated risk for low blood sugar was higher in participants with NAFLD and the association was more prominent in women and those underweight.
The team says the presence of NAFLD should be considered when doctors evaluate vulnerability to low blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about common painkiller that may strongly affect your liver health, and findings of artificial sweetener that may help reduce fatty liver disease.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies about diabetes drug that could reverse inflammation in the liver, and results showing that aerobic exercise could have the final say on fatty livers.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open and was conducted by Ji-Yeon Lee et al.
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