Examining the Effects of Glycemic Variability on Hepatic Fat Accumulation in Type 1 Diabetes Patients
Keywords:
NAFLD, T1D, GV, MAGE, Hepatic Fat, chronic autoimmuneAbstract
Background: Glycemic variability (GV) is increasingly recognized as an important factor in the management of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), with potential implications for hepatic fat accumulation and the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aims to assess the correlation between GV and hepatic fat content in T1D patients.
Methods: An observational study was conducted with 50 T1D patients. Glycemic variability was measured using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics, including the coefficient of variation (CV) and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE). Hepatic fat content was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-proton density fat fraction (PDFF). Pearson’s correlation and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate associations.
Results: A significant positive correlation (r = 0.45, p < 0.01) was found between GV and hepatic fat accumulation. Patients with high GV (CV > 36%) had a 20% higher hepatic fat fraction than those with lower variability. Multivariate analysis showed GV as an independent predictor of hepatic fat accumulation (β = 0.35, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that higher glycemic variability is associated with increased hepatic fat accumulation in T1D patients, highlighting the need for improved GV management as a strategy to reduce NAFLD risk in this population.
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