An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes has been seen in those taking statins for lowering cholesterol levels. Continue reading for more information about this shocking discovery.
The Study
One study conducted in Finland, found that those on statins may increase the risk of developing diabetes by 50%. The study was conducted on caucasian men between the ages of 45-73. One in 4 men were taking a statin at the beginning of the study, while being followed for 6 years, 625 men were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Those that were treated with statins were 46% more likely to develop diabetes. (1).
An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes has been seen in those taking statins for lowering cholesterol levels. Continue reading for more information about this shocking discovery.
What is the connection?
In the study, the statin drugs that the men were on were simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor). It is thought that the statins can increase a person’s insulin resistance (making it harder for your insulin to work) and they seem to affect how the pancreas secretes insulin. In the study, statins decreased insulin sensitivity by 24% and decreased insulin secretion by 12%.
An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes has been seen in those taking statins for lowering cholesterol levels. Continue reading for more information about this shocking discovery.
Dose amounts
Higher doses of simvastatin was connected with a 44% increase of developing diabetes, those on lower doses had a 28% increased risk of developing diabetes.
An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes has been seen in those taking statins for lowering cholesterol levels. Continue reading for more information about this shocking discovery.
What should you do?
Do not stop taking your cholesterol lowering medications. Discuss with your health care provider your options, and the risks vs. the benefits of taking statins. “If your risk for heart disease is high, the benefit of statin therapy is so important, …. in preventing heart attacks and strokes,” (1). Over 4 years, for every 40mg/dl drop in LDL cholesterol levels, there is a 13% reduction in the risk of death from any cause in patients without diabetes, and a 9% reduction of death in those with diabetes (1).
An increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes has been seen in those taking statins for lowering cholesterol levels. Continue reading for more information about this shocking discovery.
Remember
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes and you are cholesterol lowering medication, the most important thing to remember is your medication and the importance of healthy eating and exercise, which will help cholesterol levels as well as glucose levels.
1 Shah RV, Goldfine AB. Statins and risk of New-onset of Diabetes Mellitus. Circulation. 2012;126:e282-2284
