A few lifestyle changes can make a powerful impact on your liver health.
Having diabetes increases your risk of developing other diseases, such as heart disease.
Keep reading to discover what it’s crucial that you know.
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It can become damaged by elevated blood sugars, which promote fat accumulation.
The key contributor to both is insulin resistance.
Insulin also helps the liver store glucose.
When a person has insulin resistance, the cells resist the insulin the body is making.
Thats why many of the same things you might do to promote liver health also can help manage diabetes.
6 Things you’re able to Do to Protect Your Liver
1.
Thats why the CDC urges asking your doctor if you should be screened for NAFLD.
This is done by measuring liver enzymes via a blood test.
Additional testing, such as imaging, may be needed.
The earlier youre diagnosed, the more likely it is that lifestyle interventions can help manage fatty liver.
Manage Your Blood Sugar
Long-term blood sugar elevation can damage your liver.
Therefore, being confident in your diabetes treatment plan is key.
Ask your doctor to review your medication to confirm the regimen youre on is optimized and working for you.
Related:12 Healthy Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar
3.
Aim to lose weight slowly: the NIDDK says that rapid weight loss can make liver disease worse.
A good goal is to lose 7% to 10% of your body weight.
Wondering how to get started?
Check out theseWeight-Loss Meal Plansthat can help you approach weight loss in a healthy, sustainable way.
Aerobic exercise and resistance training help to slim the waistline and improve insulin sensitivity.
As cells become more sensitive to insulin, insulin resistance improves, and so does NAFLD, says Kraus.
There are so many goodthings that happen to your body when you exercise 30 minutes every day.
If you are not a regular exerciser, start slowly and increase gradually.
Find an activity you love and want to do.
Aim to eat 28 to 34 grams per day.
One of the biggest contributors to NAFLD is overconsumption of calories, Thomason says.
TheMediterranean style of eatingis a great place to start to reduce sugar and eat more whole foods.
The Bottom Line
Having diabetes does not mean youre destined to develop liver disease.