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Hepatitis C (HCV) is associated with insulin resistance, and elimination of the virus may help re-establish glycemic control in affected patients, according to a prospective case-control study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Approximately 76.5% of patients who achieved a sustained virologic response experienced improvements in insulin resistance. There was a significant 2.42±1.85 point reduction in insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) test (P <.001). Eradication of HCV was also associated with improved insulin sensitivity and decreases in serum blood glucose and insulin. Patients presenting with a high degree of fibrosis at baseline, however, maintained some level of insulin resistance following treatment (P <.04).