Liver Transplantation: A Potential Cure for Hepatogenous Diabetes?

Hepatogenous diabetes is a common complication of liver cirrhosis (1). It develops gradually as a result of profound insulin resistance and increased endogenous glucose production that unmask or lead to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Since the liver plays a major role in maintaining glucose homeostasis, it is important to investigate whether liver transplantation (LT) could prevent or cure hepatogenous diabetes in patients with liver cirrhosis. We report a case of 2-year diabetes remission in a 49-year-old Chinese female LT recipient treated with tacrolimus who had previously been on intensive insulin therapy for 5 years.The patient was diagnosed with diabetes in July 2006 at the age of 43 years, when she presented to the clinic because of severe ascites and peripheral edema. Subsequent investigations revealed the presence of hepatitis B with secondary liver cirrhosis, complicated by portal hypertension and esophageal varices. …