HepatitisC Diabetes&
HepatitisC is inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitisC virus (HCV).
Diabetes is a chronic disease where there's too much glucose in your blood. Type 1 diabetes happens when your body can’t produce insulin.Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body can’t make enough insulin, or use it properly. Insulin is produced by the pancreas.
People living with chronic hepatitisC are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that they can be up to three times more likely to develop diabetes than those without hepatitisC.
Our body's glucose is stored in the liver and muscles. Liver disease can lead to a fatty or scarred liver which cannot work properly.This can lead to high blood glucose levels.
Source: h ps://www.fron ersin.org/ar cles/10.3389/fendo.2015.00134/full h ps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04206-6
However, studies have not found the same strong link between diabetes and other liver diseases.The stronger link between hepatitisC and diabetes could be because:
People with chronic hepatitisC are more likely to develop fatty liver than people with other liver diseases.
The hepatitisC virus affects not only the liver but other organs as well. Studies have found hepatitisC virus in the pancreas and this could affect the pancreas' ability to produce insulin.
If people with diabetes share blood glucose meters, fingerstick devices, syringes or insulin pens, they are at higher risk of getting hepatitisC.
What can I do?
Find out more about hepatitisC. If you are at risk, get tested.The finger prick test takes 15 minutes and you can get the results in an hour.
HepatitisC is cured with tablets taken daily for either 8 or 12 weeks, depending on your prescription.You can be reinfected even after you're cured, so be aware of risks and be safe.
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