Hepatitis C Can Cause Insulin Resistance

Hepatitis C raises the risk of developing insulin resistance. This increases a person’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes, and it also worsens the inflammation in the liver, making complications of hepatitis C to occur more quickly. Approximately 170 million people in the world are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus. Chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of the development of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and is the main cause for liver transplantation in the western world.

Hepatitis C was first identified and named in 1989.  The virus infects liver cells and causes liver inflammation, along with several potential complications.  Hepatitis C is most commonly transmitted among intravenous drug users through sharing needles, but also through non-sterile tattooing or body piercing.  It is also possible to contract hepatitis C through contact with infected blood, or sexual contact.  There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

How does hepatitis C cause insulin resistance?

The hepatitis C virus promotes accumulation of fat inside the liver.  A fatty liver is not able to absorb excess glucose from the bloodstream, therefore the blood sugar level can rise to an undesirable degree. The majority of people with hepatitis C eventually develop insulin resistance (also known as syndrome X or metabolic syndrome).  This means their liver as well as their muscles are not able to absorb glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and use it for energy.  Instead, the glucose is converted into fatty acids and gets stored as body fat, particularly in the abdominal region.  Fat also accumulates in the liver and promotes the development of fatty liver disease. Hepatitis C increases the risk of liver cancer, and people with both hepatitis C and diabetes are at far higher risk of developing liver cancer.  Insulin resistance and diabetes both increase the amount of scar tissue present in the liver; scar tissue can progress to cirrhosis of the liver.  Research has also shown that people with insulin resistance or diabetes have a poorer response to antiviral therapy than people without these conditions.  Insulin resistance basically means having high blood insulin levels and higher than ideal blood sugar.  These conditions promote high levels of inflammation in the body, and inflammation hastens the progression of liver disease.

More than one in four Americans and Australians has insulin resistance (syndrome X).  An official diagnosis of Syndrome X is made if a person meets three or more of the following five criteria:

Signs of insulin resistance

The following are possible:

• Abdominal obesity (waist circumference greater than 88cm (34 inches) in women & greater than 102cm (40 inches) in men)
• High blood pressure (greater than 130/85mmHg)
• High triglycerides (greater than 1.69mmol/L or greater than149mg/dL)
• Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol (less than 50mg/dL in women and less than 40mg/dL in men)
• Elevated fasting glucose ( greater than 5.5mmol/L or greater than 99mg/dL)

How to protect your liver if you have hepatitis

Insulin resistance typically causes weight gain on the torso. People with abdominal obesity are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and liver complications. The following strategies should help:

• Minimize sugar and flour.  These foods are extremely high in carbohydrate and raise your blood sugar level when you eat them.  Also avoid or restrict your intake of all grains, cereals and potatoes.  See our book Diabetes type 2: You can reverse it naturally for a low carbohydrate eating plan.
• Try to do some exercise most days of the week.  Exercise will help to prevent your blood sugar getting too high, it helps to prevent high insulin levels and enables easier weight loss.
• Chromium and magnesium are essential for healthy blood sugar control and many people aren’t getting enough.  It is difficult to get enough through diet alone.  Stress and high carbohydrate diets promote deficiency of these minerals. Chromium is found in Glicemic Balance capsules, which also help reduce sugar and carbohydrate cravings. Magnesium also reduces anxiety and tension, and improves sleep quality.
• Ensure you’re getting enough selenium.  Selenium inhibits the ability of viruses to replicate, therefore it’s essential for hepatitis C patients to consume plenty of this mineral.  It is very difficult to get adequate selenium through food.
• Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.  These substances are extremely harmful to the liver in people with hepatitis C.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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