Liver disease and diabetes mellitus

The care of the patient with diabetes can be affected by liver disease or c an affect the liver. Patients with underlying diabetes can present with abn ormal liver chemistries, which can represent findings as benign as hepatic steatosis or as severe as cirrhosis of the liver. The medications used to t reat diabetes can be potent hepatotoxins. Several primary liver diseases, i ncluding chronic hepatitis C infection, are associated with increased risk of diabetes. Cirrhosis and orthotopic liver transplantation both can cause glucose intolerance, significantly complicating the management of such pati ents.