Chronic hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes are very serious health conditions. By themselves, they cause a myriad of complications. But, is there a link between chronic hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes?
The Link Between Chronic Hepatitis C and Type 2 Diabetes
The relationship between the two diseases is complicated. While type 2 diabetes makes it difficult for your body to absorb blood sugar efficiently, or at all, having chronic hepatitis c (HCV) can make it worse. HCV increases your resistance to insulin. Since this is the main reason why you would develop type 2 diabetes, one condition feeds into the other.
With the two conditions, HCV makes it hard for your body to move glucose to other parts of your body, while type 2 diabetes makes it difficult to for your cells to absorb the glucose in the first place. This effect doubly starves your body of much-needed blood sugar.
Unfortunately, having chronic HCV can increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Treatment for HCV does as well.
What You Can Do About It
The challenge doctors will have when prescribing treatment is finding the right medication and dosage to treat both when HCV has already made your cells insulin resistant. They may try a stronger dosage, or change from oral to injectable insulin instead.
Other potential complications will need to be monitored as well. Having both HCV and type 2 diabetes can leave you at risk for cirrhosis. A major disease of the liver, cirrhosis can further compromise your ability to absorb glucose by making your cells even more insulin resistant.
Final Thoughts
There is a link between chronic hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes. One feeds the other. Chronic HCV can leave you vulnerable to type 2 diabetes. While type 2 diabetes can cause further complications if you have chronic HCV. And both leave your insulin abilities compromised.
