Fatty Liver

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)–affects people that drink little to no alcohol. Fat is stored in and around the liver because the body has an excess of it. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form where the fat can cause scarring to the liver. The scarring can ultimately damage the liver from performing its necessary functions. The liver is an organ that can repair itself. Too much scarring of the liver can lead to a stage called cirrhosis where the liver cannot repair itself. At this stage, the organ has suffered irreparable damage.

About 25% of the general U.S. population has fatty liver, and most may not even know it. However, people with diabetes have a higher risk – over 50%.