The proportion of patients with diabetes before transplant, and at month 6 and 12
after transplant were 70.9%, 48.8% and 39.2%, respectively. Compared to baseline, at month
6 the odds ratio of having diabetes was 0.39 (IC 95% [0.21, 0.73]) and at month 12 it was 0.26 (IC
95% [0.14, 0.50]). The composite insulin sensitivity index values at 6 and 12 months were 1.72
units higher (IC 95% [0.84, 2.58]) and 1.58 units higher (IC 95% [0.68, 2.44)] than baseline. A
statistically significant association was found between high MELD values and high body
mass index, and risk of pre-transplant diabetes ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.033, respectively).
Cirrhosis aetiology did not influence the risk of diabetes.
Conclusions: In this study, we were able to ascertain that alterations in carbohydrate
metabolism typical of advanced cirrhosis improve after liver transplant. This improvement
is mainly due to an improvement in insulin resistance.