Are Statins Safe For Diabetics?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Are statins safe for diabetics?

The ADA recommends a moderate statin dose for people with diabetes who are under 40, or 40 to 75 without any other risks for heart disease

. A high statin dose is recommended for people with diabetes who have heart disease, and for those between 40 and 75 who have other risk factors for heart disease. Dr.

Should diabetics be on a statin?

Guidelines recommend statin therapy for all patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) who are 40 to 75 years old and have a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL or greater (to convert to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0259) for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Do statins make diabetes worse?

Researchers found that

statins were associated with an almost 50 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes

, even after adjusting for other factors. Statins appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in several ways, the researchers said.

Which statin is best for diabetics?


Rosuvastatin administered at moderate and high doses, and Simvastatin and Atorvastatin administered at high doses

were the most effective treatments in patients with diabetes by using non-HDL-C as a primary measure.

Can you take metformin with statins?

Since metformin shows beneficial effects on both dyslipidemia and glycemic control and has been shown to reduce CVD risk while statins may have an added beneficial effect on CVD risk,

combined treatment with both drugs seems a good option

.

Why do doctors push statins?

Statins are the go-to treatment option for

lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke

. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.

When should a Type 2 diabetic start statins?

In primary prevention, statins are recommended for patients with

LDL-C levels ≥190 mg/dL, patients with diabetes mellitus aged 40-75 years

, and for those with no diabetes with LDL-C levels ≥70 mg/dL – <190mg/dL and 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%.

Which statins do not raise blood sugar?

  • pravastatin.
  • fluvastatin.
  • pitavastatin.

How much do statins increase blood sugar?

Regular use of statins, a group of drugs used to treat high cholesterol, can cause as much as a

12%

increase in blood sugar levels.

Can I take metformin and atorvastatin together?


Metformin added to atorvastatin therapy is well tolerated and partially reversed atorvastatin-induced adverse effects

. At 10 weeks after medication administration, the intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed.

Does Lipitor make diabetes worse?


High-intensity statins, such as atorvastatin 80 mg and rosuvastatin 20 mg, are associated with a higher excess risk of diabetes than moderate-intensity statins

, such as atorvastatin 10 mg, simvastatin 20-40 mg, or pravastatin 40 mg.

Does atorvastatin raise blood sugar levels?


It’s possible your blood sugar (blood glucose) level may increase when you take a statin

, which may lead to developing type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on statin labels regarding blood glucose levels and diabetes.

Does metformin raise your cholesterol?

Metformin is known to reduce triglycerides (TG) by about 10% and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 10 to 15% and

increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) up to 7%

.

Do statins shorten your life?

A controversial new study found that

high cholesterol does not shorten life span

and that statins are essentially a “waste of time,” according to one of the researchers. Previous studies have linked statins with an increased risk of diabetes.

How can I lower my cholesterol without taking statins?

  1. Eat heart-healthy foods. A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health: …
  2. Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity. Exercise can improve cholesterol. …
  3. Quit smoking. …
  4. Lose weight. …
  5. Drink alcohol only in moderation.

What is the safest statin to take?


Simvastatin and pravastatin

had the best safety profile, according to this review. Overall, the researchers found a 9 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes in people taking statins.

Is there a natural substitute for statins?

Natural alternatives to statins include

soy products like tofu and edamame

. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million Americans have high LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. This greatly increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Do statins raise A1c levels?

A recent meta-analysis found that

statin treatment was associated with a modest increase in hemoglobin A1c

(HbA1c, or glycated hemoglobin) in patients with diabetes [7]. Atorvastatin, a high-potency statin, had a particularly marked effect on HbA1c.

Why do statins have to be taken at night?

Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because

the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night

. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.

Can you stop taking statins Once you start?


Do not suddenly stop taking your prescribed medication without talking with your doctor first

. If you have side effects from the medication, your doctor might adjust your dosage or recommend a different statin or other combination of medications.

Do statins clear the arteries of plaque?

Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood.

They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque

, Blaha says.

Do statins cause more harm than good?

Researchers warn that

unless a patient is at high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, statins may cause more harm than good

‘.

Does atorvastatin reduce blood sugar?

Placebo treatment did not significantly change fasting insulin or glucose levels from baseline. Atorvastatin 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg

did not significantly change glucose levels after 2 months of administration when compared with baseline

.

When should you not take metformin?

Your doctor will probably tell you not to take metformin. Also, tell your doctor if you are over 65 years old and if you have ever had a heart attack; stroke; diabetic ketoacidosis (blood sugar that is high enough to cause severe symptoms and requires emergency medical treatment); a coma; or heart or liver disease.

What should I avoid while taking metformin?

Other things to avoid while on metformin


diuretics, such as acetazolamide

. corticosteroids, such as prednisone. blood pressure medication, such as amlodipine (Norvasc) anticonvulsants, such as topiramate (Topamax) and zonisamide (Zonegran)

Can atorvastatin cause type 2 diabetes?

Despite the safety and relative tolerability of statins, observational studies,

clinical trials and meta-analyses indicate an increased risk of developing new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after long-term statin treatment

.

Can statins cause insulin resistance?

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (F.

What is the downside of atorvastatin?

The two most serious side effects are

liver failure and skeletal muscle damage

. These are rare. Specifically, statins may lead to muscle damage in 1 in 10,000 people who take this type of drug each year. The damage is typically reversible once the person stops taking the statin.

Is there a non statin cholesterol medication?

There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe:

Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid)

stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.

Is metformin a statin?

Metformin is a widely used drug in the treatment of diabetes, possessing beneficial effects on the glucose and lipid metabolism. However,

statins are a class of drugs that decrease plasma cholesterol levels

and are prescribed as first choice to patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

What side effects does metformin have?

  • Feeling sick (nausea) Take metformin with food to reduce the chances of feeling sick. …
  • Being sick (vomiting) Take small, frequent sips of water or squash to avoid dehydration. …
  • Diarrhoea. …
  • Stomach ache. …
  • Loss of appetite. …
  • A metallic taste in the mouth.

Does metformin affect your heart?

In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that metformin can significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality as well as the incidence of cardiovascular events in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with coronary heart disease.

Do you have to take a statin with metformin?

Since metformin shows beneficial effects on both dyslipidemia and glycemic control and has been shown to reduce CVD risk while statins may have an added beneficial effect on CVD risk,

combined treatment with both drugs seems a good option

.

Which statins do not raise blood sugar?

  • pravastatin.
  • fluvastatin.
  • pitavastatin.

How much do statins raise blood sugar?

Regular use of statins, a group of drugs used to treat high cholesterol, can cause as much as a

12%

increase in blood sugar levels.

Do statins affect your A1c?

A recent meta-analysis found that

statin treatment was associated with a modest increase in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, or glycated hemoglobin) in patients with diabetes

[7]. Atorvastatin, a high-potency statin, had a particularly marked effect on HbA1c.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.