Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA), the nation's leading organization committed to the fight to end diabetes, announced an important consensus report on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), in people with diabetes and prediabetes.
In the United States, MASLD affects about 70% of people with type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, about half of these individuals are affected by a more progressive form (metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH). The presence of MASH can substantially increase the risk of developing other liver complications, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer, and is associated with an increased risk of mortality.
Though MASLD and MASH affect a substantial number of people with diabetes, guidance around prevention, screening, and management is still a rapidly developing area. Many health care professionals may have limited knowledge on how to best help people with diabetes and at risk of liver disease. This consensus report addresses this knowledge gap and serves as a call to action for screening, determining risk, and appropriate treatment in the context of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, especially in the presence of obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors.
“Liver disease tends to be often overlooked as a major complication of diabetes,” said Dr. Nuha El Sayed, the ADA’s senior vice president, health care improvement. “It is critical for health care professionals to have access to updated information to effectively screen for and treat liver disease in diabetes and prediabetes.”
In addition to the detailed guidance on early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of liver disease in people with diabetes or prediabetes, the document also details topics of special consideration, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, alcohol intake, and the role of the interprofessional care team.
“The interprofessional team approach to liver disease prevention and care is critical for appropriate disease management,” said Dr. Raveendhara Bannuru, the ADA’s vice president of medical affairs and the report’s chief methodologist. “This concept is comprehensively discussed throughout the document and we encourage health care professionals to consider this guidance in conjunction with clinical judgement and individual preferences when making informed care decisions.”
The ADA hopes this guidance helps with the screening, prevention, and treatment of liver disease in people with diabetes, now published in Diabetes Care®.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure —and we’re not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
