A client with type 2 diabetes has routine lab work, which reveals elevated free fatty acids (FFA). The client asks, "Why is this significant?" The most accurate response would be: Select all that apply

Question

A) This may increase the amount of triglyceride (a form of fat) stored in your liver or around your heart.
B) Your pancreas is affected by increased fat (lipotoxicity), which causes beta cell dysfunction, leading to the need for insulin.
C) Excess fat in the liver causes a decrease in hepatic glucose production leading to severe hypoglycemia.
D) Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may lead to needing a liver transplant.
E) Excess fatty acids may interfere with the way your body responds to an infection.

Answer 1

Ans: A, B
Feedback:
Visceral obesity is accompanied by an increase in postprandial FFA concentrations and subsequent triglyceride storage, including in sites that do not normally store fat such as the liver, skeletal muscle, heart, and pancreatic beta cells. A consequence to this may a direct cause of pancreatic beta cell dysfunction (lipotoxicity). The accumulation of FFAs and triglycerides reduces hepatic insulin sensitivity, leading to increased hepatic glucose production and hyperglycemia. In the liver, the uptake of FFAs from the portal blood can lead to hepatic triglyceride accumulation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.