Prevalence of Fatty Liver Disease among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients and its Relation to Insulin Resistance

Background A substantial proportion of the mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its complications. Insulin resistance is a major etiologic factor for the development of fatty liver. We aimed to study the prevalence of NAFLD among T2DM patients and its relation to insulin resistance. Methods Patients with T2DM that were referred to a tertiary referral center in Tehran from February 2003 to August 2005 were evaluated. Patients with characteristic findings on ultrasonography were considered as having fatty Livers. The Homeostasis Model Assistant - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) were calculated as measures of insulin resistance. Results Of the 172 patients included in the study, 96 (55.8%) had evidence of fatty livers, 6 of which (3.5% of total) presented with elevated liver enzymes. BMI and triglyceride levels in the fatty liver group were significantly higher than patients with normal livers (p=0.002 and 0.036, respectively). The HOMA-IR and QUICKI indexes were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion Fatty liver is a common finding among T2DM patients. The degree of insulin resistance does not appear to be predictive of fatty liver among this population.