Newb

[MrsKMcFadden]

Hi,
My name is Kristy. I haven't been diagnosed with diabetes however my dad Gran and extended family have type 1 and 2 and I would like to know more and understand this better. My doctor is worried I am at risk due to my own health issues and my family history.

I am looking for some help to be honest. My dad is currently in hospital and I can't visit. He has a lot of fluid build up and now they think its liver disease due to type 2. Does anybody know anything about this? Can anybody help and give a better understanding? I have looked at google and I probably shouldn't but the doctors at the hospital aren't giving us much information but they keep running test after test.

Thanks
Kristy

 

[Vonny]

Hi Kristy and welcome to the forum.

My fatty liver cleared up once my sugar levels came down and I'd lost weight. I'd had it for years, the GP thought it was due to tamoxifen after breast cancer in 2010, which I stopped taking in 2015 but the fatty liver stayed. I'm not sure what liver damage the hospital thinks has happened. The main thing is that they are keeping up testing so hopefully will have a diagnosis and treatment soon.

Regarding you being at risk of diabetes, the key is to be as healthy as you can. Try to keep to a healthy weight and reduce carb intake if you eat a lot of carbs. I always thought I could never be a diabetic as I don't have a sweet tooth and rarely eat anything with sugar in, but I hadn't realised that carbs turn to sugar really quickly and can spike your levels. You don't have to cut them out, just gradually reduce them.

Fingers crossed that you will escape, just because it runs in the family doesn't mean it's certain you will get it.

Best of luck to your dad, and I hope the hospital can come up with some answers soon.

Others may be along soon who have more experience of liver issues than me x

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @MrsKMcFadden and welcome to the forum.
Usually when a GP says someone is at risk from Diabetes, that person already has a higher Blood Glucose than is considered to be 'normal'. However that is already something that can be starting to contribute toward excess weight and to fatty liver.
The unfortunate truth is that carbohydrates are only a non-essential macro nutrient ( meaning we don't need to eat them in order to stay alive) as opposed to both proteins and fats which are both essential macro nutrients. People with Type 2 Diabetes are more sensitive to carbohydrates in their diet than most people are, even though they often produce much more insulin than is normal. All carbohydrates even the so-called healthy ones such as whole grains, starchy veg and fruit (particularly tropical fruit ) start break down into sugars as soon as we eat them. While Type 1 Diabetics are unable to produce the insulin required to deal with Blood Glucose.
Most people who aren't (yet) Type 2 only need to make small adjustments such as cutting down a little on things like breakfast cereal, bread and potatoes in order to prevent things getting worse.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your Dad @MrsKMcFadden

It must be very difficult for you not to be able to visit

As far as I am aware, the type of liver disease most associated with T2 is NAFLD, or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

There is some information from the NHS on this here

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. It often affects overweight or obese people. Although NAFLD doesn't usually cause serious problems, you should take steps to stop it getting worse.

www.nhs.uk

Hope your Dad’s results shed some light on the situation, and that an effective course of treatment can be proposed.