Fatty liver 'increases risk of diabetes'

Having fatty liver could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of the amount of fat you carry elsewhere, a study has shown.

Researchers from Stanford University said that as fatty liver is often accompanied by other risk factors for diabetes such as insulin resistance and obesity, it is difficult to determine whether it alone heightens the risk of the condition developing.

However, the study found that even in participants with similar insulin concentrations, having fatty liver made them twice as likely to develop the condition.

Researcher Sun Kim said: "Our study shows that fatty liver, as diagnosed by ultrasound, strongly predicts the development of type 2 diabetes regardless of insulin concentration."

Meanwhile, scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada have found that the risk of heart disease for those who never drink is between 14 and 25 per cent higher than for those who enjoy a drink, suggesting that drinking moderately could protect against heart disease.

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