People with both diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease face double the risk of developing severe liver scarring that can progress to cirrhosis or liver failure, a nationwide study spanning 30 hospitals across India has found. ADVERTISEMENTThe results underscore a significant public health risk in India, where both conditions are common and often remain undiagnosed. Pooled estimates from earlier studies suggest that fatty liver disease affects roughly one in three adults, while diabetes affects one in 10, representing a large, growing population at risk of severe liver disease. Doctors have long known that diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — the new name for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease — stem from disruptions in the way the body processes energy, including sugar and fat. For the new analysis, the consortium examined 400 patients with MASLD confirmed through liver biopsy, among whom 93 also had diabetes.

Source: The Telegraph January 18, 2026 02:15 UTC