Liver Function in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a syndrome of disordered metabolism with abnormally high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). In Type-2 DM (T2DM), the loss of direct effect of insulin to suppress hepatic glucose production and glycogenolysis in the liver causes an increase in hepatic glucose production. Hence, this study was intended to determine the status of parameters related to liver function in T2DM patients and compare it with that of controls. Objectives: To study the activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in T2DM patients and compare it with that of normal healthy controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients of both sexes suffering from T2DM and 30 age and sex matched normal individuals were selected for the study. The patients with fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl on 2 occasion were included in the study. Patients with any concomitant diseases which can alter liver function and patient with hepatitis, alcoholic were excluded from the study. Results: The mean activity of serum ALT (47.86 ± 33.66 U/L), serum AST, (49.7 ± 30.76 IU/L), and serum ALP (115.9 ± 42.65 IU/L) of diabetic patients shows significant difference from that of the normal subjects. Conclusion: The outcomes of the present study suggest that the liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP) have shown higher activity with T2DM patients than individuals who do not have DM. The most common abnormality seen among these liver enzymes is elevated AST activity.