Millions of people with diabetes ignore the risk of liver C, and the risk of liver cancer is 6 times higher? Doctor: "Clear" early to avoid complications
150,000 diabetics are infected with hepatitis C. Doctor: The virus not only affects the liver
The number of people with diabetes in Taiwan has exceeded 2.3 million, of whom 156,000 (6.8%) are infected with hepatitis C virus. Not only does it easily increase blood sugar control problems, it can also lead to potential risks of liver cancer and complications. Dr. Gao Jiahong, chairman of the Taiwan Association for the Advancement of Liver Disease Medical Policy, reminded that infection with hepatitis C virus may not only evolve into chronic hepatitis or even cause cirrhosis, but the risk of liver cancer may increase by 1-4% every year.
“Hepatitis C (HCV) infection not only affects the liver, increasing the risk of progression to the “trilogy of liver diseases”, but other organ systems may also be involved. Up to 40% to 70% of hepatitis C patients will develop at least one “extrahepatic disease” “Performance”, the three most common extrahepatic comorbidities are diabetes, renal disease and cardiovascular disease! "
Dr. Gao Jiahong reminded that in addition to infecting liver cells, hepatitis C can also cause systemic and chronic inflammation of blood vessels, induce insulin resistance, increase blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, and endothelial cell abnormalities, which may eventually lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Therefore, if diabetics are complicated by hepatitis C infection, they should be actively treated. Currently, the national health insurance fully covers oral anti-hepatitis C virus drugs, and the cure rate of hepatitis C within 3 months can reach 99%.
The risk of liver cancer increases by 6 times. People with diabetes should “clear out” hepatitis C virus as soon as possible
“People with diabetes are generally concerned about blood sugar control and cardiovascular disease. In fact, if you suffer from hepatitis C at the same time, it will not only affect blood sugar control. The risk of liver cancer for diabetics who do not actively treat liver C may be more than 6 times that of ordinary diabetics!”
Dr. Wang Zhiyuan, chairman of the Diabetes Health Education Association of Taiwan, said that hepatitis C is one of the reasons for poor control of diabetes. Past studies have shown that the prevalence of hepatitis C in diabetics is 2-3 times higher than that of the general population. At the same time, hepatitis C infection is also One of the risk factors for diabetes, even increasing the risk of diabetes by up to 11 times. Once diabetes is combined with hepatitis C and the virus is not eradicated, you will face the risk of long-term complications.
Dr. Wang Zhiyuan reminded that hepatitis C virus can be eradicated through drug treatment, but if it is discovered too late, the physical damage may be difficult to eliminate. Diabetics are reminded to know whether they have hepatitis C infection and proactively ask when taking blood for blood glucose testing. Medical staff accept hepatitis C screening and call on diabetics to pay attention to hepatitis C “universal screening” + “treatment” to “clear” the hepatitis C virus in the body and help stabilize sugar control.
Only 60% of diabetics are screened for liver C, and the status of liver C infection among millions of people with diabetes is unknown
Diabetes is the main extrahepatic comorbidity of hepatitis C. However, only 60% of diabetic patients participating in the Diabetes Medical Benefit Improvement Program have received liver C screening. Pu Ruofang, director of the National Hepatitis C Elimination Office of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reminded that there are probably about one million diabetics in Taiwan who do not know whether they are also exposed to the threat of hepatitis C virus. When returning to the hospital, they should ask medical staff whether they have been screened for hepatitis C. Those who have not yet been tested can go to the 6,000 medical institutions in Taiwan that provide adult preventive care to be tested or additionally tested for hepatitis C infection as soon as possible.
In order to achieve the country’s goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2025 and assist more people with early detection and treatment, the government has expanded subsidies for adult preventive health care for hepatitis B and C screening to all people aged 45 to 79 (original people aged 40 to 79) throughout their lives. One free screening opportunity is available. The Diabetes Health Education Association of Taiwan has also launched the “Hepatitis C Clearance Project for Diabetics” to promote treatment guidelines, hepatitis C screening of 10,000 people, and health education videos. It is hoped that all medical institutions in Taiwan will join together to remove hepatitis C from patients with diabetes. The screening rate will be increased to 80% to 90% to avoid the additional health threats posed by hepatitis C.
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