Below is the conclusion of the study which is a nice summary, but if you would like to see how bad it really is you should read the report. I've included a link to a PDF of the entire study below and recommend it.
NAFLD is increasing in prevalence and there are still no FDA approved treatments for the disease. In addition, patients lack a general understanding of NAFLD resulting in lower self-efficacy to comply with treatment recommendations of diet and exercise. The lack of information and treatment recommendations given to patients suggests that the current standard of care is not sufficient to meet the needs of patients. Inadequate information associated with the current standard of care hinders patients’ ability to take charge of their own health and improve their quality of life. Clinical trials should be considered part of the standard of care while a more robust standard of care is being developed. Disease understanding, support with diet and exercise, quality of life and convenience, altruism, understanding potential side effects, and less frequent biopsies are important factors to patients that should be considered when designing NAFLD clinical trials.
I had fatty liver at some point a long time ago and was diagnosed with cirrhosis about 7 yrs ago only because I went to hospital with food poisoning. I have diabetes and go every 4 months for blood work nothing ever shows up even today that would indicate any liver problems. I was in bad shape and didn't even realize it. I don't know how many people there are like me but since diagnosed I take better care of myself lost quite a bit of weight exercise more watch my diabetes better I just wish I had known sooner there was something so seriously wrong with me. I don't drink and see liver specialist regularly for cat scans and endoscopic. Have stomach varices and also in my esophagus. I should have taken better care of myself a long time ago and maybe it would not have gotten to this point. I assumed since I don't drink my liver was fine. I guess I should not have assumed so much. I don't know if there are very many people besides myself who can have regular blood work and nothing ever shows up or if I am just a strange case. If other people ha bcc e had same problem I would be interested to know. My best advice is take care of yourself if you have diabetes before something serious happens don't assume everything is fine.
Hi Mel2637, sadly you are not unique. I am like that too and having no early symptoms is common. Most of us look back and wish we had known. One of the goals of the foundation is the education of the at risk but asymptomatic patients about liver disease.
I live in us fortunately you can have your colon checked every 10 yrs sooner if needed unfortunately you can't have your liver checked unless there is a problem. If you could you could take steps to help it before it went to cirrhosis. There would be a lot less transplants needed. The steps I have taken have slowed down the progression which is good but if I had not gotten sick when I did it could have advanced a lot before I found out. Lucky for me but a lot of people are not so lucky.
That is a very sad truth. The disease often has no symptoms at all until it is life-threatening which is just wrong in so many ways. It is why we are sponsoring early screening of at risk patients with no symptoms. If that is of interest here is a link to the project. fattyliverfoundation.org/pi...
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