Fatty liver disease linked to metabolism problems and type 2 diabetes: causes, diagnosis, and new treatment options

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects a majority of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

• MASLD significantly increases the risk of fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cardiovascular mortality in T2DM patients.
• The disease's pathogenesis in diabetic populations involves insulin resistance, abnormal lipid levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and genetic factors.
• Non-invasive diagnostics, such as elastography and serum biomarkers, improve early identification and staging of MASLD, though challenges persist in diabetic patients.
• Lifestyle changes are essential for managing MASLD, while new medications are being developed that may offer additional benefits beyond blood sugar control.
• Antidiabetic medications, like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, have shown potential liver benefits.
• A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to effectively tackle the increasing prevalence of MASLD in individuals with T2DM.

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