Hepatogenous Diabetes - A Report from Central India.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cirrhosis of liver is associated with loss of liver function, portal hypertension, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction leading to hepatogenous diabetes (HD). Often HD is an underestimated and understudied problem, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, where the prevalence of both Chronic liver disease (CLD) and diabetes is high. Hence this study was planned to highlight the prevalence of HD and its association with the severity of cirrhosis.

METHODS

A total of 121 cirrhotic patients without a history of diabetes were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. Seventy five g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done in all patients. Fasting serum insulin levels were done to calculate insulin resistance (IR) using homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done to detect varices. Patients were divided into HD group and non-HD group for comparison of results.

RESULTS

HD was seen in 52 (42.98%) patients; among them, 63.4% did not show evidence of HD by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was seen in 58 (47.93%) patients. Compared with the non-HD group, the HD group had significantly higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score ( = 0.038), HOMA-IR ( < 0.001), incidence of large varices ( < 0.001) and variceal bleeding ( < 0.001). A statistically significant association was noted between HD and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ( < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with cirrhosis had a high prevalence of IGT, IR, and HD. The presence of HD is well associated with the severity of cirrhosis in the form of higher MELD score (>15), CTP score (>10), higher bilirubin levels, large varices, bleeding varices, and HCC. FPG levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) cannot be relied upon, and OGTT aids in the unmasking of HD in these patients.