Hepatic Enzymes in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Seventy six patients classified as having type 2 diabetes (mean age 56.7 ± 3.25 years; duration of type 2 diabetes 9.47 ± 3.87 years) were studied along with forty normal subjects for the prevalence of abnormal aminotransferase (AST and ALT) activities. Of those with type 2 diabetes, 45 patients used insulin in addition to diet and hypoglycemic drugs. None of the patients had known chronic liver disease. Hemoglobin A1c averaged 10 ± 2.0 vs. 6 ± 1.11. The type 2 diabetic patients had elevated ALT (48 %) more frequently than AST (25 %). Elevated aminotransferases were twice the upper limit of normal in majority of the patients.