Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide and is closely linked to factors such as obesity, genetic predispositions, and lifestyle choices. Recent studies emphasize the significant role of gut microbiota in the development and progression of diabetes and other related metabolic diseases. It is also known that the effects and side effects of antidiabetic drugs can be influenced by gut microbiota. Recently, various therapeutic strategies have aimed at modulating gut microbiota for health improvement. Key approaches include the use of probiotics to enhance the balance of beneficial bacteria and prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria. Additionally, the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation in restoring a balanced microbiota composition in individuals with metabolic diseases are explored. This review highlights the promising potential of these interventions in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that gut microbiota could be a novel and effective approach in diabetes treatment and control.

Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide and is closely linked to factors such as obesity, genetic predispositions, and lifestyle choices. Recent studies emphasize the significant role of gut microbiota in the development and progression of diabetes and other related metabolic diseases. It is also known that the effects and side effects of antidiabetic drugs can be influenced by gut microbiota. Recently, various therapeutic strategies have aimed at modulating gut microbiota for health improvement. Key approaches include the use of probiotics to enhance the balance of beneficial bacteria and prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria. Additionally, the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation in restoring a balanced microbiota composition in individuals with metabolic diseases are explored. This review highlights the promising potential of these interventions in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that gut microbiota could be a novel and effective approach in diabetes treatment and control.

Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide and is closely linked to factors such as obesity, genetic predispositions, and lifestyle choices. Recent studies emphasize the significant role of gut microbiota in the development and progression of diabetes and other related metabolic diseases. It is also known that the effects and side effects of antidiabetic drugs can be influenced by gut microbiota. Recently, various therapeutic strategies have aimed at modulating gut microbiota for health improvement. Key approaches include the use of probiotics to enhance the balance of beneficial bacteria and prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria. Additionally, the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation in restoring a balanced microbiota composition in individuals with metabolic diseases are explored. This review highlights the promising potential of these interventions in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that gut microbiota could be a novel and effective approach in diabetes treatment and control.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.