Diabetes As a Cause of Jaundice

liver

Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyeballs. It is a sign of liver malfunction. Conditions that affect the liver, such as hepatitis can cause jaundice.

Diabetes and Jaundice

While the liver is heavily involved in blood sugar regulation, The American Diabetes Association does not directly link diabetes to the development of jaundice.

Liver Function and Jaundice

One important function of the liver is to remove dead red blood cells. If the liver is damaged, dead red blood cells accumulate in the blood stream. The blood vessels deposit them in the skin and whites of the eyeballs, causing these tissues to turn yellow.

Reason for the Color Yellow

Medline Plus states that bilirubin is the chemical in hemoglobin that allows your blood to transport oxygen. Bilirubin is yellow. When the liver cannot remove dead red blood cells, the yellow bilirubin is left over.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

The American Diabetes Association does state that a pregnant mother with poorly controlled diabetes has an increased likelihood of giving birth to a baby with jaundice. The reason for this is not known. Proper treatment of the infant's jaundice has an excellent success rate.

What to Do if You Have Jaundice

Seek immediate care from your primary care physician or from the emergency department at your hospital.

References

• Medline Plus: Jaundice
• The American Diabetes Association: Before Pregnancy

Resources

• WebMD: Bilirubin