If Statins Cause Diabetes, Why Should All Diabetics Take A Statin?
The guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology are crystal clear. People with diabetes (both type-1 and type-2) should all be on a statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicine! There are no exceptions to this recommendation. Any physician who strays from the path of prescribing a statin to his or her diabetic patients will presumably be practicing bad medicine. What makes this guideline so intriguing is the growing body of evidence suggesting that statins cause diabetes in a substantial number of people. So, the very drug that induces elevated blood sugars is required to treat the cardiovascular risks associated with the development of drug-induced type-2 diabetes. Does this seem as odd to you as it does to us? Do Statins Cause Diabetes? Do you doubt that statins cause* diabetes? Here is just the latest research on this connection (Dormuth et al, BMJ, online, May 29, 2014). Researchers analyzed data on nearly 140,000 patients in Canada, the UK and the U.S. All the individuals had been hospitalized either because of a heart attack, stent placement or some other serious cardiovascular procedure. Some were given low-potency statins while others were placed on high-potency statins such as rosuvastatin (Crestor) at a dose of 10 mg or greater, atorvastatin (Lipitor) at a dose of 20 mg or higher or simvastatin (Zocor) at a dose of 40 mg or higher. None of the people in the analysis had been diagnosed or treated for diabetes prior to being placed on a statin. Within two years of starting on the medicine 3,629 patients were diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Those given high-potency statins were 15% more likely to end up with blood sugar elevations compared to patients prescribed lower-potency statins or lower doses. The lead author, Colin Do Continue reading >>
Lipitor
What is Lipitor? Lipitor is a prescription drug manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and used to control high cholesterol levels. By lowering cholesterol, the drug aims to prevent dangerous blockages in blood flow and thereby reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lipitor in 1996. The drug’s active ingredient is atorvastatin calcium. This class of medications is generally well-tolerated; however, it has been associated with multiple risks, including: Lipitor belongs to a popular class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, which represent the most widely prescribed class of drugs in the U.S. Lipitor is the most popular of all statins. Patients take statins to lower levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood that, if left unchecked, can increase the risk for heart attack, stroke and other related health complications. The liver makes most of the cholesterol found in blood. Statins reduce the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and help the liver remove cholesterol that’s already in the blood. How Lipitor Works Cholesterol plays a crucial role in several bodily processes that are essential to our health, but unhealthy levels of cholesterol can lead to buildup (plaque) on the walls of arteries. This can block blood flow to the brain and heart and put people at higher risk for stroke and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Lipitor prevents heart attack and stroke by lowering cholesterol in the blood. It slows the production of cholesterol in the body therefore decreasing the amount of plaque buildup that may block the flow of blood to the heart and brain. Stat Continue reading >>
Statin Use Linked To Heightened Type 2 Diabetes Risk In Susceptible Individuals
Long term use of statins to lower blood fats and stave off cardiovascular disease is associated with a 30 per cent heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals, suggests a large study published in the online journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. The findings held true irrespective of the criteria used to determine the need for treatment, suggesting that these factors weren't major contributors to diabetes risk, say the researchers. They base their findings on 3234 participants in the US Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). This is a long-term follow up study to a randomised clinical trial which looked at whether modest weight loss through lifestyle changes or treatment with metformin could reduce or delay development of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk. The trial participants were given standard advice on healthy eating and exercise and were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle programme, treatment with metformin, or a dummy drug (placebo). At the end of the trial they were invited to take part in DPPOS, during which their blood fats and blood pressure were measured annually. Blood glucose was measured twice a year, at which point new statin treatment was recorded. At the start of DPPOS fewer than 4 per cent of participants were taking statins, but use of these drugs gradually increased until after 10 years around a third of the participants were taking them. The most commonly prescribed statins were simvastatin (40%) and atorvastatin (37%). The likelihood of a prescription rose substantially after a diagnosis of diabetes. However, statin use was itself associated with a heightened risk of being diagnosed with diabetes, irrespective of which treatment group the participants had been in during the trial. Continue reading >>
Study: Statins Linked With Small Diabetes Risk
WASHINGTON (AP) - A new side effect seems to be emerging for those cholesterol-lowering wonder drugs called statins: They may increase some people's chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. A study published Monday adds to the evidence, finding a modest risk among older women who used a variety of statins. It's a puzzling link, and specialists say people who most need statins because of a high risk for a heart attack should stick with the drugs. "What I fear here is that people who need and will benefit from statins will be scared off of using the drugs because of reports like this," says Dr. Steven Nissen, cardiology chairman at the Cleveland Clinic, who wasn't involved with the research. "We don't want these drugs in the water supply, but we want the right people treated. When they are, this effect is not a significant limitation." But more and more doctors are urging otherwise healthy people to use the pills as a way to prevent heart disease. For them, the findings add another potential complication as they consider whether to tackle their cholesterol with diet and exercise alone or add a medication. "The statin should not be seen as the magic pill," says Dr. Yunsheng Ma of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who led the study of postmenopausal women. Statins are one of the most widely prescribed drugs, and among the most touted with good reason. They can dramatically lower so-called "bad" LDL cholesterol. Studies make clear that they save lives when used by people who already have heart disease. What's debated is how much the drugs help people who don't yet have cardiovascular disease but whose chances are higher because of other factors such as smoking or high blood pressure - or diabetes. In fact, long-term diabetes is so heart-risky that the American Di Continue reading >>
Cholesterol-lowering Statin Linked To Heightened Diabetes Risk
A US study has linked the cholesterol-lowering drug statin to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes among patients already deemed to be at high risk of the condition. Published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, the study looked at data from 3,234 overweight or obese participants taking part in the US Diabetes Prevention Programme Outcomes Study. After 10 years follow-up, a third of patients had started using statins. Researchers found that taking the drugs was associated with a 36% heightened risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, compared to those who had not been prescribed. "This study indicates that statins can increase the onset of diabetes in some people,” said Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation. "However, it does not mean that people should stop taking their statins as there is no doubt they save lives. Instead, the findings reinforce the need to regularly monitor the blood sugar levels of patients taking statins." In a separate study, British researchers found a “significant” number of patients prescribed statins only had a small chance of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) The report, published in the British Journal of General Practice, found a "significant over-treatment" of statin therapy with patients who had less than 10% chance of having a heart attack or stroke within 10 years. Tracking statin prescribing between 2000 and 2015, researchers from the University of Birmingham looked at 1.4 million patients aged over 40 across 248 GP practices across England and Wales. Some 217,860 patients started statin treatment during this time, with 151,788 recorded as having undergone the recommended risk assessment for CVD. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recomme Continue reading >>
Statins
Tweet Diabetes and statins have a complex relationship and are the focus of intense patient and healthcare debate. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are frequently used as part of diabetes care due to the knowledge that people with diabetes face a greater likelihood of heart attack and stroke. When used alongside good blood glucose control and other medication, the case for statins argues that they cut cholesterol levels and lower the risk of a cardiovascular event. Type 2 diabetes in particular is commonly linked with higher levels of cholesterol. How can I lower my risk of cardiovascular problems without taking statins? There are other ways to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of stroke and heart attacks. These methods include stopping smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, taking regular physical activity and ensuring your diet is not over-reliant on processed foods. In some people, a change in lifestyle can make enough of a difference to cholesterol levels for you to not require cholesterol lowering treatment such as statins. If, however, your cholesterol levels remain above the target cholesterol levels and factors such as age and family history of heart disease and stroke show you to be at a high risk of heart disease, your doctor will likely advise statin treatment. What do statins do for people with diabetes? Statins affect the way the liver manufactures cholesterol, lowering levels of LDL cholesterol (the so called ‘bad’ cholesterol) and raising levels of HDL cholesterol (the so called ‘good’ cholesterol). The terms good and bad cholesterol are used because, whilst we do need both types of cholesterol, having too high levels LDl cholesterol is linked with higher risks of heart disease whereas h Continue reading >>
Statins Linked To Diabetes In Postmenopausal Women
Are statins linked to diabetes in postmenopausal women? The answer is a resounding YES according to research from the Mayo Clinic. Yet more and more women are being prescribed cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Some doctors even recommend adding statins to the water supply or giving them away at McDonald’s drive-thru windows. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic analyzed data from the national, multiyear Women's Health Initiative (WHI). That’s the same study that brought down synthetic hormone replacement therapy. In this study, researchers used WHI data through 2005 and included 153,840 women without diabetes and with an average age of 63.2 years. At the beginning of the study 7.04 percent of the women reported taking a statin. After three years there were 10,242 new cases of diabetes. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, women taking statins had a stunning 71% increased risk of diabetes compared to women not taking the drugs. Even after adjusting for other potential variables, including age, race/ethnicity and body mass index, women were found to have a 48% increased risk. Statins Linked To Diabetes and Ineffective for Heart Disease Statins are prescribed to reduce cholesterol and coronary heart disease. The science behind statins, however, is suspect. According to Dr. Hyman, studies have only found statins effective to prevent second heart attacks, but not first heart attacks. Another study found statins may contribute to cardiovascular events. Statins are also prescribed to lower cholesterol. But there are serious questions as to whether cholesterol is related to coronary heart disease and heart attacks at all. In fact, in older patients, lower cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of death from all causes. In 99 out of 100 men, says Dr. Hyman, the drugs have Continue reading >>
Taking Statins Raises The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes By Nearly A Third: Findings Reopens Debate About The Pills Benefits And Side Effects
Taking statins increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly a third, researchers found. A decade-long study of more than 3,200 patients found those who took statins were 30 per cent more likely to develop the condition. Some six million Britons take statins every day to reduce their cholesterol and ward off heart disease. The pills are proven lifesavers, slashing the chance of a repeat attack, yet a scientific row over benefits and side effects has dragged on for years. Experts have long known there was a link between statins and diabetes – but doctors have always stressed that the advantages of the pills far outweigh the small chance of getting diabetes. Previous research had put the chance of developing type 2 diabetes at no more than 10 to 12 per cent greater than if someone did not take statins. The latest study, however, suggests the medication increases the risk by 30 per cent. The researchers, from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, think this may be because statins impair insulin production. In the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, they called for regular blood sugar tests of people taking statins. ‘Glucose status should be monitored and healthy lifestyle behaviours reinforced in high-risk patients who are prescribed statins for cardiovascular disease [prevention],’ they wrote. The scientists tracked overweight people already considered at risk of diabetes for ten years. At the start, 4 per cent took statins, but by the end roughly a third were taking the pills. No link was found between the potency of the statins used and diabetes risk. The researchers stressed that the additional risk of developing diabetes should be balanced against ‘the consistent and highly significant’ reduction in risk of heart attacks, strokes and deat Continue reading >>
Cholesterol Pills Linked To Diabetes Risk
Kent Peterson, senior editor, has also produced award-winning work in television and radio. Should you stop taking your statin? That might be a good question to discuss with your doctor in light of recent research. Millions of Americans take statins every day to reduce their risk of heart trouble. But a new study suggests statins may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. How statins help Statins are a group of different medicines that all do the same thing: reduce high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is a substance your body makes to help it function properly. Everyone needs some cholesterol, but too much can lead to dangerous buildups of plaque in the arteries. That could cause a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is a widespread problem, especially as people get older. The cholesterol-lowering benefits of statins are well proven, so they are a powerful and important medicine for heart health. Statins are also believed to help reduce inflammation in the body and improve circulation. That should reduce the risk of diabetes, not raise it. Surprisingly, that’s not what the new study found. New findings The research, published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, analyzed data on more than 3,200 people from across the United States who had a high risk of diabetes. All were overweight or obese and had elevated blood sugar levels that were not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Over a 10-year period, people in the test group who took statins had a 30 percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t use statins. The results were about the same whether statin users took large or small doses. This study is not the first to link statins and diabetes, but it is the first to find that even people with a h Continue reading >>
Statins And Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need To Know
Statins are a type of drug prescribed to patients with high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. They work by blocking a substance needed to make LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, in your liver. As it travels through the blood, LDL cholesterol deposits fatty particles on the arterial walls in the heart and brain. Over time, buildup can cause a blockage that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Statins help lower LDL cholesterol. This can lower your risk of stroke and heart attack. Statins also help to: reduce inflammation improve the health of the lining of blood vessels reduce the risk of blood clots Statins have been used for more than 25 years. In February 2012, though, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised health providers and consumers that the use of statins may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Statins are usually safe and provide many benefits. As with many drugs, you and your doctor must weigh the pros and cons of taking a statin drug. The FDA still believes in the benefits of statins. The 2012 announcement isn’t meant to urge all people to stop taking statins. Rather, it advises doctors to monitor the blood sugar levels of their patients who take these drugs. The American Diabetes Association states that the benefits of taking a statin outweigh the risk of acquiring diabetes. The American Heart Association suggests that there isn’t enough data to support stopping your statin use if you have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a disorder that affects how much insulin your body releases, how your body uses it, or both. Insulin is a hormone your pancreas makes and releases after your body breaks food down into glucose. The hormone helps transport the glucose from your blood into your body’s cells, where it is us Continue reading >>
Statin Use Linked To Heightened Type 2 Diabetes Risk In Susceptible Individuals
……Irrespective of risk factors for diabetes or clinical criteria for treatment with these drugs Long term use of statins to lower blood fats and stave off cardiovascular disease is associated with a 30 per cent heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals, suggests a large study published in the online journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. The findings held true irrespective of the criteria used to determine the need for treatment, suggesting that these factors weren’t major contributors to diabetes risk, say the researchers. They base their findings on 3234 participants in the US Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). This is a long-term follow up study to a randomised clinical trial which looked at whether modest weight loss through lifestyle changes or treatment with metformin could reduce or delay development of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk. The trial participants were given standard advice on healthy eating and exercise and were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle programme, treatment with metformin, or a dummy drug (placebo). At the end of the trial they were invited to take part in DPPOS, during which their blood fats and blood pressure were measured annually. Blood glucose was measured twice a year, at which point new statin treatment was recorded. At the start of DPPOS fewer than 4 per cent of participants were taking statins, but use of these drugs gradually increased until after 10 years around a third of the participants were taking them. The most commonly prescribed statins were simvastatin (40%) and atorvastatin (37%). The likelihood of a prescription rose substantially after a diagnosis of diabetes. However, statin use was itself associated with a heightened risk of being diagnos Continue reading >>
Statin Use And Risk Of Diabetes Mellitus
Go to: STATINS IN DIABETES Statins are used for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Other benefits due to statins are not mediated by their lipid lowering properties[8] but due to its pleiotropic effects. In conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular disease and hypertension the non-lipid lowering pleotropic benefits of statins have been observed[9]. These pleiotropic effects mediated by statins can be due to inhibition of isoprenoid synthesis which in turn inhibits intracellular signaling molecules Rho, Rac and Cdc42. The predominant mechanism that has been postulated is inhibition of Rho and its activation to Rho kinase[10]. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. The insulin resistance contributes to the abnormal lipid profile associated with type 2 diabetes[11]. Dyslipidemia contributes to increased cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes[12]. A linear relationship exists between cholesterol levels and cardiovascular diseases in diabetics even if we ignore the baseline LDL[13]. By predominantly lowering LDL-Cholesterol and due to minor effects on other lipoproteins, statins appear to be beneficial[12]. In Heart Protection Study which was done in diabetics, the decrease in cardiovascular events like first major coronary event, stroke were to the tune of 22% as compared to placebo[14]. It was recommended by American Diabetes Association that statin therapy should be initiated in individuals with diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors with target LDL cholesterol of 100 mg/dL[15]. Investigators are also of the opinion that statin therapy should depend not on the LDL levels but the cardiovascular complications accompanying diabetes[16]. Other studies wh Continue reading >>
Statins Raise Diabetes Risk: Experts Sound New Alarm Over Cholesterol Pill
Those on high doses of the cholesterol-busting pills are more prone to suffer dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels. Scientists say an unwanted by-product of the drug is a link to the chronic condition. Studies show those prescribed statins are less likely to develop heart disease but the downside is it appears to make them more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found over-75s are a third more likely to be struck down if they are taking statins. But the risk increased to 50 per cent for those on higher doses of the tablets. Dr Mark Jones, who led the research, said: “We found almost 50 per cent of women in their late-70s and 80s in the study took statins and five per cent were diagnosed with new onset diabetes. What is most concerning was we found a ‘dose effect’ where the risk of diabetes increased as the dosage of statins increased. “Over the 10 years of the study most of the women progressed to higher doses of statins. GPs and their elderly female patients should be aware of the risks.” The study will reignite debate over the safety of a drug taken by millions of Britons each day. A large-scale British review last year showed statins were the safest and most effective way of preventing heart attack and stroke but they still remain highly controversial. Professor Alan Sinclair, director of the Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People, said: “Statin use and increased diabetes risk is not new and clinicians must continue to minimise risk due to the adverse effects of these drugs by careful prescribing but at the same time recognise clear cardiovascular benefits from their use. We found almost 50 per cent of women in their late-70s and 80s in the study took statins “In older people, who are already at increased diabetes risk from other cau Continue reading >>
Different Levels Of Diabetes Risk Linked To Different Statins
Different types of statin increase the risk of diabetes more than others and should therefore be tailored to patients accordingly, the authors of a large Canadian study have recommended. Continue reading >>
Statins Linked To Increased Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Lowering the "bad" form of cholesterol with statin drugs could increase diabetes risk, a study suggests. Scientists found that people with naturally lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were less likely to develop heart disease but slightly more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes. Reducing LDL levels by taking statins may have the same effect, they believe. Lead researcher Dr Michael Holmes, from Oxford University, said: "What we've shown in this study is that the role played by blood lipid levels in disease is a complex one. "While the effect of taking LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins may slightly increase a person's risk of developing diabetes this effect is greatly outweighed by their benefits in the form of preventing people from suffering from a life-altering heart attack or stroke." The team analysed large data sets of information about genetic make-up to tease apart the possible effects on heart disease and diabetes risk of LDL and so-called "good" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is said to be protective. They also looked at the influence of triglyceride blood fats which are associated with heart disease. Cases of heart disease were more likely to occur among people with genetic mutations that increased their levels of LDL or triglycerides, the research showed. But genetic variants that raised either LDL or HDL cholesterol levels, and possibly triglyceride levels, slightly reduced the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. How to | Manage and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes Six tips from Dr David Cavan, the UK's leading expert on diabetes self-management and author of Reverse Your Diabetes: The Step-by-Step Plan to Take Control of Type 2 Diabetes. Limit yourself to two standard alcoholic drinks a day. Alcohol is Continue reading >>
