Hepatitis C patients more likely to develop diabetes

A new study has found that people with hepatitis C may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to findings published in the journal Gastroenterology.

Hepatitis C is a blood-born disease that is contracted either through unprotected sex or injection drug use and causes liver complications. If left untreated, people who have the disease can develop cancer of the organ or liver failure.

In an effort to determine how susceptible hepatitis C patients are to diabetes, researchers observed insulin resistance in 29 individuals who tested positive for the disease.

The team discovered that practically all of the resistance experienced by 15 of the patients was found in muscle tissue as opposed to the liver. Because their muscles were unable to properly absorb insulin, these patients suffered from high blood sugar levels, which could lead to diabetes.

Don Chisholm, co-author of the study, stated that "at this stage, it is helpful for people with Hepatitis C to understand insulin resistance and what it can mean for them." He added that "if they have relatives with type 2 diabetes, they will be genetically prone to developing it themselves and so would be advised to manage their diets very carefully and take plenty of exercise - to slow onset."