title: Presence of Concurrent Derangements of Liver Function Tests in Type 2 Diabetes and Their Relationship with Glycemic Status: A Retrospective Observational Study from Meghalaya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The liver plays a pivotal role in carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, functional state of the liver in patients with diabetes is of interest. The objectives of the current study were to (i) identify co-existent biochemical derangements of liver function tests (LFTs) in type 2 diabetes and (ii) determine the association between liver function parameters and glycemic status in type 2 diabetics from Shillong, Meghalaya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 320 type 2 diabetes patients were screened retrospectively for abnormalities in LFTs. Relationship of fasting serum glucose was assessed with the following tests in the LFT panel: Total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and albumin. Correlation coefficient was computed between individual LFT and fasting glucose status. These bivariate analyses were supplemented by multivariate linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  71.25% subjects had an abnormality in at least one LFT. Elevated ALT (46.8%) and elevated ALP (48.5%) were the most common abnormality in males and females, respectively. ALP correlated positively with fasting glucose in both sexes. AST, ALT, and ALP were found to be independent determinants of glycemic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Derangements in liver function are widely co-existent in type 2 diabetics from Shillong. Deranged liver enzymes are associated with glycemic status. Screening for liver dysfunction in diabetics and subsequent workup may lead to the identification of hepatic co-morbidities and better management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Kaustubh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Meghna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Happy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chutia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Chandan Kumar
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Nursing, Army Institute of Nursing, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Dulmoni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Alice Abraham
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ruram
keywords: Liver enzymes; Meghalaya; liver function; type 2 diabetes mellitus