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People with type 2 diabetes face a hidden liver threat. Around 70% of people with type 2 diabetes have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet many go unscreened and undiagnosed. Experts are urging diabetes care specialists to prioritize liver screening and pair lifestyle changes — better diet, more movement, improved sleep — with medications for the best outcomes.
MASLD — metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease — is quietly affecting a huge share of people with diabetes, and experts say the healthcare system isn't keeping up. Speaking at the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists annual meeting, two specialists called on diabetes educators to add liver health to their standard screening toolkit and act early before the disease progresses.
The challenge? MASLD is largely asymptomatic, stigmatized, and still poorly understood by many clinicians. Some providers are still using outdated terminology like "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease," and conflicting guidance leaves patients confused. Only two FDA-approved medications exist for the condition: resmetirom and semaglutide.
The experts emphasized that drugs should always complement — never replace — lifestyle changes. Dietary improvements, increased physical activity, better sleep, and reduced caloric intake can meaningfully reduce liver fat even without dramatic weight loss.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With MASLD so prevalent among diabetic patients and so often missed, diabetes educators and primary care providers are uniquely positioned to close the screening gap — and early lifestyle intervention could prevent serious liver complications down the line.
