I’m a Diabetologist: How to Detect Fatty Liver at Home Without Tests

Fatty liver is a highly prevalent condition in India, with recent studies indicating that nearly 40 per cent of the adult population is affected with it. With changing times, a lot of younger people are

also being diagnosed with fatty liver, especially in those with type 2 diabetes and those who are overweight. According to doctors, the condition is rapidly increasing due to lifestyle factors, which include sedentary jobs, poor diet, and stress, affecting individuals who are not necessarily overweight or heavy drinkers. However, you can also easily check at home whether you have fatty liver or not. Popular diabetologist Dr Brij Mohan Arora, in a recent Instagram video, shared how he addressed a patient's concern about his liver health and potential pre-diabetes without even getting a blood test done. So, these are the signs you need to look out for:

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A post shared by Dr Brijmohan Arora | Diabetologist Dwarka (@drbrijmohanarora)

Acanthosis Nigricans

“Make sure to look out for dark and velvety skin around your neck, armpits, and groin, as these are a clear marker of insulin resistance and are strongly linked to fatty liver,” said Dr Arora. Acanthosis nigricans is often caused by insulin resistance, which means your body's cells do not properly respond to insulin, causing high levels of insulin in the blood, which can trigger dark, thick skin patches in folds like the neck and armpits. According to Dr Arora, the same insulin resistance is a key driver of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or fatty liver.

Belly fat

“Fat accumulated around the abdomen is the strongest everyday predictor of fatty liver,” said Dr Arora. Belly or visceral fat is strongly linked to fatty liver disease – especially the visceral fat that surrounds internal organs like the liver. It happens because excess abdominal fat – which is a hallmark of metabolic issues like insulin resistance- releases fatty acids that can be deposited in the liver, causing it to become fatty and inflamed.

Skin tags

Skin tags can lead to fatty liver disease as they are connected to both metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, and other related health issues like high cholesterol and blood pressure. According to Dr Arora, multiple skin tags in your skin may happen due to these underlying metabolic disturbances. “Small soft growths around neck, chest, armpits show chronically high insulin,” he said.

Spider veins in the legs

If you notice spider veins in your legs, do not take them lightly, as they can be a reason behind fatty liver disease, especially in the advanced stages, where the liver no longer processes hormones. “Dilated and superficial veins on thighs and legs are often seen in metabolic dysfunction and early liver strain,” Dr Arora said. The liver usually breaks down estrogen, but when its function gets compromised, the levels of estrogen rise unabated, causing spider angiomas on the skin, which appear on the legs.