Contents:
- Medical Video: Hepatitis C and the connection to cancer
- What is hepatitis C?
- The hepatitis C virus not only causes liver inflammation
- Liver health and diabetes
- Insulin & hepatitis C virus treatment
- Long-term risk
- How can I overcome these two conditions?
Medical Video: Hepatitis C and the connection to cancer
Diabetes is increasingly common. Although this one disease is often associated with the application of an unhealthy lifestyle, a poor diet is not the only cause of diabetes. Yes, diabetes can also be caused by a viral infection, one of which is the hepatitis C virus. Some diabetics are even more susceptible to chronic hepatitis.
There is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus, so it is very important to know the risks and how this one affects your health in the long run.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver / liver. The most common forms of this virus are hepatitis A, B, and C.
The hepatitis C virus, which is transmitted through blood, is considered more dangerous, because there is no vaccine for this virus. Hepatitis C prevents the liver from carrying out its normal functions, including:
- Digest food
- Save nutrients and energy
- Prevent infection
- Cleanses chemicals from the bloodstream
The hepatitis C virus not only causes liver inflammation
The liver has important functions and hepatitis can damage your health. On a larger scale, the hepatitis C virus can be linked to other diseases, including diabetes.
A person has diabetes when their body has difficulty absorbing blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an energy source that also affects all organs and muscles in the body. Because glucose is processed through the liver like other nutrients, the connection between hepatitis C and diabetes should not be surprising.
Liver health and diabetes
Hepatitis C can cause diabetes through two main ways. First, diabetes can occur because someone has a history of chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C virus eventually results in the liver being difficult to get rid of excess glucose. If left without proper treatment, this condition can eventually cause hyperglycemia. The hepatitis C virus also increases the body's resistance to insulin. This is a major risk factor for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
On the other hand, if you already have diabetes, then you are infected with hepatitis C, you can experience more severe hepatitis C infection. Your liver is more susceptible to cirrhosis, your body tends to respond poorly to treatment, and the possibility of liver cancer formation is higher.
Insulin & hepatitis C virus treatment
If you have a history of diabetes, it is important to use insulin as your doctor recommends. However, if you also have hepatitis C, treatment may be complicated. Not only insulin, drugs also affect liver metabolism and reduce your resistance to hepatitis infection.
To reduce the possibility of contracting the hepatitis C virus, avoid using needles with other people who have diabetes.
Long-term risk
Having diabetes and the hepatitis C virus can cause other complications. The biggest risk is cirrhosis, aka long-term liver damage. Cirrhosis also increases insulin levels which make diabetes treatment more difficult.
This advanced form of liver disease can cause liver failure, which can be fatal. Liver transplantation is usually done to treat cirrhosis, but the long-term effects on diabetes are still unknown.
How can I overcome these two conditions?
The relationship between hepatitis C and diabetes is one of the things to consider. Not all patients affected by the hepatitis C virus will experience diabetes and vice versa, but the risk is still there. It is important to test one disease if you have another disease.
All people with diabetes should take a hepatitis C test. Your doctor may order a blood antibody test to measure the risk of getting hepatitis C in the future.
Patients infected with the hepatitis C virus must continue to do routine blood tests, which also include checking blood sugar levels. These steps are the best way to prevent further health complications related to these two health conditions.
