Blood protein may reveal hidden nerve damage in diabetes and fatty liver

This observational study investigates whether a substance in the blood called nociceptin is linked to overactive nerves in people who have both type 2 diabetes and metabolic fatty liver disease. Researchers will compare 50 patients with both conditions to 50 healthy volunteers, measuring nociceptin and a marker of nerve activity from a single blood sample. The goal is to see if nociceptin could serve as a simple biomarker for this common health problem. No treatments or experimental drugs are involved.