The Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Liver Disease

"Did you know that type 2 diabetes and overweight can put you at an increased risk for certain types of liver disease? Research is starting to reveal more about this often-overlooked connection between type 2 diabetes and your liver. Learn more about the connection, getting screened for liver disease, and how to care for your liver.

All About Your Liver

Your liver is the largest internal organ in your body, and it’s responsible for many vital functions, including:

• Filtering your blood to remove wastes like chemicals or toxins.
• Breaking down medications and other substances.
• Producing bile, which helps you digest fats into energy.
• Helping your body’s immune system fight germs that could make you sick.

Your liver also plays a key role in balancing your blood sugar levels. When you eat, a hormone called insulin removes extra sugar from your bloodstream and stores it in your liver for future use. Between meals and overnight, your liver releases that sugar back into your bloodstream so your body has the energy it needs.

Types of Liver Disease

Viral hepatitis is a liver infection caused by certain viruses. Liver damage or liver cancer can be caused by heavy alcohol consumption.

Other types of liver disease can be caused by chronic conditions like obesity (especially weight around your belly), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) happens when too much fat builds up in your liver. It’s normal for your liver to store some fat, but if more than 5% of your liver’s weight comes from fat, this can cause problems.

A more severe form of fatty liver disease is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This is when you have NAFLD and also have swelling, inflammation (an immune response to injury or illness), and liver damage. About 20% to 30% of people with NAFLD also develop NASH.

NAFLD and NASH can lead to more serious complications like liver cirrhosis, which is scarring and permanent damage to your liver. This damage could eventually lead to liver failure and the need for a liver transplant.."
Diabetes and Liver 

Diabetes and Your Immune System

"Having diabetes can increase your chances of getting sick and can slow down your recovery. Find out how you can boost your immune system and stay healthy with diabetes.

Diabetes can make it harder for you to fight off infectious diseases, which are illnesses caused by germs. If you have diabetes, you might have a higher risk of getting sick and becoming more severely ill if you do get sick. Being sick can also make it harder to manage your blood sugar levels.

How Your Immune System Works

Your immune system recognizes and fights off germs that can make you sick. Many people think of the immune system as protection inside the body. But your first line of defense is your skin, which keeps unwanted germs out. The second layer of your immune system is a type of white blood cells circulating throughout your body known as lymphocytes. These white blood cells are on the lookout for threats that could make you sick, like bacteria, viruses, toxins, or fungi. Once your immune system recognizes these germs, it fights them off, often without you even noticing.

Your immune system also helps you build up immunity, or protection, against some viruses. Once your immune system has learned to fight off a certain virus, it often remembers how to do it again, if needed. This means if you’re exposed to a virus more than once, your immune system can usually fight it off faster, and with fewer or no symptoms at all. When you get a vaccine, it gives your immune system instructions on how to fight off a virus, protecting you from getting severely ill.

How Diabetes Affects Your Immune System

High blood sugar adds stress to your body and makes nearly every system work harder, including the white blood cells of your immune system. This means that if you have diabetes, your immune system might be weakened and less effective. High blood sugar can also trigger a protective immune response called inflammation, which can damage your internal organs over time.

If you have inflammation, your immune system is working harder. When this happens while your immune system may already be weakened, it can be more difficult to fight off infections. Research shows that people with diabetes can have more frequent illnesses like respiratory tract infections, flu, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. It may take longer to heal or recover from illnesses, cuts, and wounds.

If you do get sick, you may notice that your blood sugar levels become higher than usual. To fight off illness, your immune system releases hormones that can increase your blood sugar temporarily. Some cold and flu medicines can also raise your blood sugar. On the other hand, fever, sweating, and poor appetite can cause low blood sugar. Be sure to monitor your blood sugar closely and take steps if it gets too high or too low..."
Diabetes and Immunity 

Statins and Diabetes: What You Should Know

"Lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and being active are an important part of managing diabetes. But your doctor may also prescribe a combination of medicines to help you manage your diabetes and reduce the risk of complications. Because heart disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes, taking statins to lower your cholesterol levels can be key to preventing heart disease and stroke.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States, especially among White, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people. While heart disease and stroke can affect anyone, people with certain health conditions, like diabetes, are at higher risk. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke compared to people without diabetes. And the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have heart disease. This is because over time, high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart.

A common cause of heart disease for people with diabetes is plaque (cholesterol deposits) that builds up in the arteries. When plaque continues to build, your arteries narrow, making it harder for blood to flow to your heart. This can cause heart muscles to weaken, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. For this reason, your doctor may prescribe a statin (blood cholesterol-lowering medicine) to reduce your risk of heart disease.

About half of people who are taking medicine to manage their high blood cholesterol are using a statin. While statin use is highly recommended to lower the risk of heart disease, research shows that younger adults, women, and people without insurance are less likely to receive a statin prescription. Compared with non-Hispanic White people, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people have lower rates of cholesterol management. Further, women and Black adults are less likely to use statins. It’s important to know your risk for heart disease and stroke and to talk to your health care professional about all possible treatment plans.

What Are Statins?

Statins are a type of cholesterol-lowering medicine that reduces the amount of cholesterol made in the liver. Statins also help remove LDL (“bad”) cholesterol that’s already in the blood and raise your HDL (“good”) cholesterol. They can also:

• Reduce the buildup of plaque on the walls of your arteries.
• Stabilize plaque so that it doesn’t break off and block blood flow to the heart or brain.
• Decrease swelling in the walls of your arteries.
• Decrease the chance of blood clots forming.

There are several types of statins, each with different dosage levels and intensity (strength). A statin prescription will be based on your individual factors. These include your blood cholesterol levels, your risk for heart disease, and your tolerance of a specific statin. Your health care team will work with you to determine the best type and dosage to reduce your risk of heart disease and manage your diabetes..."
Statins and Diabetes 

The Importance of Self-Care for Diabetes Management

"Did you know the key to successfully manage diabetes is you? But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Participating in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) can help you improve your diabetes management skills in seven key areas.

If you have diabetes, you know that managing it day to day can take time and practice. Even when you have a daily routine down, life happens and can knock you off your game. And when it does, you’ll want to make sure you have the tools, resources, and skills to get back on track. That’s why participating in DSMES is an important part of learning how to live with diabetes.

Learning 7 Self-Care Behaviors

DSMES services have been shown to help people with diabetes lose weight (if needed) and improve A1C levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. It can even help reduce the risk of diabetes complications and hospitalizations. Since diabetes is managed mainly by the person who has it, the focus of DSMES is to help people with diabetes develop the skills they need to self-manage their diabetes. You will learn seven key areas of self-care to help you live well with diabetes.

Healthy coping

Your emotional well-being plays an important role in your self-care. Negative thoughts and feelings can affect how well you take care of yourself. Healthy coping can help you manage the emotional side of diabetes. This key area of self-care helps you recognize negative emotions and how to take steps to reduce the impact they may have on managing diabetes. Joining a peer support group can be a great way to connect and share stories from daily management to mental health. And remember, your doctor or diabetes care and education specialist is also there to support you. Talk to them about your experiences, concerns, or any questions you may have about managing diabetes. Learn more by watching this video on healthy coping.

Healthy eating

If you have diabetes, you know that eating well is key to managing your blood sugar. But that doesn’t mean always giving up your favorite meals, restaurants, or dessert. Work with a diabetes care and education specialist to learn about the foods you eat and how they affect your diabetes management. They’ll help you create a healthy eating plan that’s specific to your health needs, lifestyle, beliefs, taste, and culture. Learn more by watching this video on healthy eating..."
Diabetes 

Healthy Eating for People With Diabetes

"If you have diabetes, you probably know more than most about the foods you eat and how they affect your diabetes management. While there’s no such thing as a “diabetes diet,” some people have found certain eating plans to be helpful in managing diabetes.

Healthy eating is key to managing your blood sugar. But what does it mean to eat healthy? The truth is, healthy eating looks no different for you than it does for anyone else. It includes eating foods that are lower in added sugars and saturated fat. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to eating healthy, several eating plans can help manage your diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association released a report reviewing several eating plans that have been shown to help people with diabetes. One of the most researched has been Mediterranean-style eating. Studies report benefits such as improved A1C levels, cholesterol, and heart health.

What Is Mediterranean-Style Eating?

Mediterranean-style eating is the traditional eating habits and lifestyle in countries along the Mediterranean Sea. More than 20 countries border the Mediterranean. Because each country differs in culture, religion, economy, and agricultural production, there’s not one specific Mediterranean way to eat. But Mediterranean eating has many common factors. These include:

• Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts.
• Using extra virgin olive oil instead of butter or other oils.
• Limiting dairy products and red meat.
• Limiting sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods.

How Can This Way of Eating Help You Manage Diabetes?

When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make or use insulin well and can’t keep your blood sugar at normal levels (known as insulin resistance). This causes spikes in your blood sugar and over time can lead to serious complications. Because Mediterranean-style eating is rich in plant-based foods and limits processed ones, it can help reduce insulin resistance. This leads to better blood sugar management and lower A1C levels. Mediterranean-style eating can also help:

• Improve heart health. Saturated fats and sodium are bad for your heart. They can increase cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Since heart disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes, you’ll want to limit these food with high amounts of saturated fat or sodium in your diet. Following Mediterranean-style eating can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• With weight loss, if you’re overweight. Mediterranean-style eating emphasizes foods that are full of fiber. Fiber helps with blood sugar and weight management. The Mediterranean lifestyle also encourages being physically active. Being active helps control blood sugar levels and lowers your risk of heart disease and nerve damage.
• Reduce inflammation. High blood sugar from diabetes can cause inflammation. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, fruits, olive oil, and fatty fish can help reduce inflammation and strengthen your immune system..."
  Healthy Eating and Diabetes 

Diabetes Stigma: Learn About It, Recognize It, Reduce It

"Chances are you know someone with diabetes. They could be a friend, coworker, neighbor, a family member, or even you. And unfortunately, chances are the person you know with diabetes has experienced stigma, or negative attitudes, about having diabetes. Much of the stigma comes from people not knowing enough about diabetes. Reducing diabetes stigma starts with education and raising awareness. Keep reading to learn more.

Diabetes is a serious health condition that millions of Americans live with today. Some people think that people with diabetes make poor decisions or have bad habits, and that’s why they have diabetes. The truth is that diabetes is caused by either the body not being able to make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or because the body doesn’t use insulin well (type 2 diabetes).

Experiencing diabetes stigma is a challenge that many people with diabetes face. In fact, did you know that more than half of people with diabetes report that they have experienced diabetes stigma? Diabetes stigma can exist anywhere: in the family, school, workplace, and even in health care settings. You may not realize it, but stigma can prevent people from getting the care they need, make diabetes management more difficult, and affect one’s mental health. Learning about diabetes stigma can help you recognize it and reduce it.

What is Diabetes Stigma?

Diabetes stigma is defined as negative attitudes, judgment, discrimination, or prejudice against someone because of their diabetes. It comes from the false idea that people with diabetes made unhealthy food and lifestyle choices, which resulted in their diagnosis. Diabetes stigma can particularly affect people who have diabetes and are overweight. These false beliefs do not consider key factors that can cause diabetes, such as genetics (traits you inherit from your parents) and social determinants of health..."
Diabetes 

Coping With a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

"So you’ve just been told you have type 2 diabetes. There’s probably a lot running through your head right now. Living with diabetes takes a lot of work and can take a toll on your physical and mental health. The good news is there are things you can do to help you cope so you can stay strong mentally and physically.     

While there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, there are ways to manage it and thrive. There’s no one-size-fits-all diabetes management and treatment plan. Your doctor, diabetes education specialist, and other health care professionals can create a plan for your specific needs. A successful diabetes management plan will include healthy eating, exercise, medical support, and emotional support. Yes, emotional support. Getting emotional support is just as important as any other part of diabetes care and treatment.

You may not have all the answers on how to deal with diabetes right now, but over time you’ll figure it out. Many people with type 2 diabetes lead long, healthy lives. Just remember—whatever you’re feeling is OK, and you’re not alone.

Here’s what you should keep in mind as you take each step forward:

It’s Not Your Fault

The truth is, you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes because your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep your blood sugar at normal levels. There are many factors that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Some you have no control over, like your race and ethnicity, stress, and having a close relative (parent, brother, sister) with type 2 diabetes. While you can’t change those things, you can make lifestyle changes like eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise, and losing weight—if needed—to help manage type 2 diabetes. Now that you know you have diabetes, you can plan your next steps to help manage it and prevent serious complications.

You Can Live a Long, Healthy Life With Diabetes

If you’ve just been told you have type 2 diabetes and you’re not sure what that future looks like, that’s completely understandable. What you should know is that diabetes care and treatment has come a long way in reducing the impact of diabetes on people’s lives. People with diabetes are living longer, healthier lives with fewer complications. And with the help of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services, you can gain the knowledge, skills, and support needed to successfully manage diabetes..."
Type 2 Diabetes 

Diabetes and Your Brain

"Here’s something that may blow your mind. Did you know that diabetes can affect your brain? Your brain is sensitive to the amount of glucose (sugar) it receives. Both high and low blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the brain. Learn how managing your blood sugar can help keep your body and brain healthy.

You probably know that keeping your blood sugar in your target range is key for managing diabetes and preventing complications like heart disease and vision loss. But did you know that episodes of high and low blood sugar can affect brain function? This is because your brain is sensitive to the amount of sugar it receives.

You can help prevent or delay problems by keeping your blood sugar as close to your target levels as possible. Learn about the connection between diabetes and the brain and how managing your blood sugar can help keep your brain and the rest of your body healthy.

The Connection Between Diabetes and the Brain

Your brain is your body’s command center. It’s made up of nerve cells that keep your body functioning—even while you sleep. It also controls how you feel, learn, and remember. And in order to do all this work, your brain uses sugar in your blood for energy. The brain is the most energy-demanding organ—needing half of all the sugar energy in the body to function properly.

If your blood sugar levels fall outside of your normal range, it can throw your command center off balance. In the same way that diabetes can cause nerve damage to your eyes, feet, and hands, it can also affect your brain by damaging nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to problems with memory and learning, mood shifts, weight gain, hormonal changes, and over time, other serious problems like Alzheimer’s disease. Since both high and low blood sugar levels can cause these harms, it’s especially important for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar at target levels.

Hyperglycemia and the Brain

Because your brain relies on sugar for its energy source, you may think, “The more sugar I give it, the better off my brain will be.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Having frequent episodes of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can stress the brain. And because the effects of high blood sugar happen over time and aren’t obvious right away, many people don’t know that their brain is being affected.

High blood sugar over time damages blood vessels in the brain that carry oxygen-rich blood. When your brain receives too little blood, brain cells can die. This is called brain atrophy and can cause problems with memory and thinking and eventually can lead to vascular dementia..."
Diabetes and the brain 

Fiber: The Carb That Helps You Manage Diabetes

"Fiber is part of a healthy diet and can provide a range of health benefits. It can be especially important in preventing or managing diabetes. Learn more about the surprising role of fiber.

We all need fiber to keep our internal plumbing humming like a fine-tuned engine. But most US adults  only get about half the fiber they need each day. You wouldn’t skip out on maintaining your car with the necessary gasoline and oil, right? Then why do it to your body?

Here’s the scoop. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. It helps keep you regular, but it offers many other health benefits as well, especially for people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Health Benefits of Fiber

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, fiber is your friend because it helps with blood sugar control and weight management. It can also lower your risk of heart disease and some cancers. Specifically, fiber can help:

• Control your blood sugar. Because the body is unable to absorb and break down fiber, it doesn’t cause a spike in blood sugar the way other carbohydrates can. This can help keep your blood sugar in your target range.
• Protect your heart. Fiber prevents your body from taking in some fat and cholesterol, lowering your triglyceride and cholesterol levels to help reduce your risk of heart disease.
• Maintain your digestive health. Fiber acts like a scrub brush, cleaning your digestive tract. It helps clean out bacteria and other buildup to improve gut health and help reduce your risk of colon cancer.
• Keep you feeling full and help with weight management. Since fiber can’t be digested, it moves slowly through the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer. And many foods high in fiber tend to be low in calories, which can help with weight loss.

Types of Fiber

There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Each has important health benefits and plays a different role in the body.

• Soluble fiber. This type dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance in your stomach, slowing down digestion. It helps control your blood sugar and cholesterol, which can help prevent or manage diabetes complications. Soluble fiber is found in apples, bananas, oats, peas, black beans, lima beans, Brussels sprouts, and avocados.
• Insoluble fiber. This type does not dissolve in water and typically remains whole as it passes through your stomach. It supports insulin sensitivity and helps keep your bowels healthy to keep you regular. Insoluble fiber is found in whole wheat flour, bran, nuts, seeds, and the skins of many fruits and vegetables.

Ways to Add More Fiber to Your Diet

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 recommends that adults eat 22 to 34 grams of fiber each day, the specific amount will depend on your age and sex. You may ask yourself, “So how much is 22 to 34 grams of fiber?” Well, think about it this way, 30 grams of fiber would be like eating about six apples a day. And although apples are a great source of fiber, eating six a day is not recommended or necessary. Instead, spread your fiber intake among different foods throughout the day. You can:

• Have a fiber-friendly breakfast. Try avocado toast topped with chickpeas, or make a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and berries.
• Choose whole grains. Look for bread that lists whole grain flour as the first ingredient. Swap out white rice for brown rice or quinoa. Try whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta.
• Focus on non-starchy vegetables. Start dinners with a salad. Or, add spinach, broccoli, or a bag of frozen mixed vegetables to your meals for a fiber boost.
• Add beans or other legumes. Try adding legumes such as lentils and peas or different kinds of beans (pinto, kidney, lima, navy, garbanzo) to salads, soups, stews, or casseroles. Or you can puree legumes to make dips and spreads.
• Snack on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Choose fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, bananas, or baby carrots to snack on. Keep almonds, sunflower seeds, and pistachios handy for a quick fiber-friendly snack.

Just remember to take it slow by adding a bit more fiber every few days. A sudden increase in fiber can lead to uncomfortable digestive problems such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or cramps. Drink plenty of water to help food move easily through your system.."
Fiber 

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes

"There’s more to why people get type 2 diabetes than you may know. Although lifestyle is a big part, so are family history, age, and race. Learn about what causes type 2 diabetes and how you can help lower your risk.

You’ve probably heard the expression, “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” In the same way we can’t tell what’s inside a book without reading it, we can’t look at a person and know if they’re at risk of type 2 diabetes.

It’s true that being overweight is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, but your family history, age, and race are risk factors too.

Learn about what causes type 2 diabetes, and how you can help lower your risk.

Diabetes Factors

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. We don’t know exactly why this happens, but we do know factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You may be at risk if you:

• Have prediabetes.
• Are overweight.
• Are 45 years or older.
• Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.
• Are physically active for less than 150 minutes a week.
• Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds.
• Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk).

The Fat You Can’t See

Although a person looks thin on the outside, they may have fat on the inside that nobody can see that puts them at risk of type 2 diabetes. How is this possible?

There are two kinds of fat:

• Fat that’s stored just under the skin. This is fat that we may be able to feel on the outside, like on our arms and legs.
• Fat that’s stored in our stomach and surrounds important internal organs. We can’t see this hidden, or “visceral” fat from the outside.

Research shows that visceral fat is an important factor in how our hormones work. It’s also linked to insulin resistance, when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin.

Having too much visceral fat may increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke..."
Type 2 Diabetes 

Diabetes Care During Emergencies

"Managing diabetes can be hard during a major storm, loss of electricity, or infectious disease outbreaks. Plan ahead so that you can manage your diabetes during times of emergency.

Natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and other emergencies can happen at any moment. They may cause widespread and long-lasting impacts on supplies, services, and health care systems. Emergencies can be stressful because we often feel things are out of our control. Planning ahead can help.

Having essential supplies, prescriptions, important paperwork, and practical skills will help you during an emergency. People with diabetes should also be prepared to manage their condition during any kind of emergency, whether they have to shelter in place, evacuate, or protect themselves from an infectious disease.

Create a Diabetes Care Kit

Planning is an important part of being prepared for an emergency. In addition to having basic emergency supplies, people with diabetes should also put together a diabetes care kit. Keep the kit in an easy-to-carry waterproof bag or storage container so you can move quickly if you have to evacuate. View a printable checklist of the suppliesexternal icon.

Put your medical information in a sealed plastic bag, including:

• Copies of any prescriptions, including eye health prescriptions.
• Current dosages and times when you take medicines.
• Your basal rates, insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio, insulin sensitivity factor, blood sugar target, and correction factors for insulin pumps.
• Your pharmacy and doctor’s name, address, and phone number.
• The make, model, and serial number of your insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor.
• A copy of your photo ID and health insurance card.

Pack enough diabetes supplies to last at least 1 to 2 weeks, including:

• Insulin and syringes for every injection. Learn more about insulin storageexternal icon.
• Blood sugar (glucose) meter.
• Extra batteries for your blood sugar meter and insulin pump.
• Lancets and lancing devices.
• Insulin pump supplies, including extra pump sets and insertion devices.
• Glucagon kits.
• Ketone strips.
• Alcohol wipes.
• Glucose tablets or 15 grams of quick carbs (such as juice, hard candy, or honey) to treat low blood sugar.
• Oral diabetes medicine.
• An empty plastic bottle or sharps container to safely carry syringes, needles, and lancets.

Be sure to store your supplies properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also check the expiration dates for your supplies every few months. Anything that’s close to expiring, replace with fresh supplies. You can use the supplies that were in the kit for your daily care before they reach the expiration date..."
Diabetes emergencies