Diabetes. 2026 Jun 6:dbi260001. doi: 10.2337/dbi26-0001. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Worldwide metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Despite high global prevalence, MASLD is not yet recognized as a noncommunicable disease, although all of the criteria are fulfilled for such a classification. MASLD is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain extrahepatic cancers. At 65% and 37% the prevalence of MASLD is extremely high in adults and children with type 2 diabetes, respectively. The pathogenesis of MASLD is closely related to that of type 2 diabetes, and diabetes-associated hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia promote progression from simple steatosis to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, MASLD is now considered a complication of diabetes. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done to implement screening for and treatment of MASLD in everyday clinical diabetes management. In this article, the major mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of MASLD and type 2 diabetes are discussed. Furthermore, the heterogeneity in the pathophysiology of MASLD and clusters in MASLD that may be relevant for future stratification of MASLD-associated risk of diseases are addressed. Finally, because of their strong hepato-, cardio-, and nephroprotective effects this article provides support as to why sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (co)agonists should be used as first-line pharmacotherapies in people with MASLD and type 2 diabetes.
PMID:42250281 | DOI:10.2337/dbi26-0001