Will taking statins make you diabetic?

Statins, a line of prescription medications designed to lower LDL cholesterol levels and lessen artery blockages that could lead to a heart attack or stroke, are incredibly effective. There’s also a lot of information online, some true and some not, about their side effects, including that taking statins will make you diabetic.

Physician assistant at Prisma Cardiology and certified lipid specialist Eric Shoup, PAC, spoke with us on the relationship between statins and diabetes.

Statins can change your risk for type 2 diabetes

“Statins can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, most prominently in those who were already at a heightened risk,” said Shoup.

He noted that the higher level of risk was found most in those who have a family history of developing type 2 diabetes or those with metabolic syndrome, a grouping of risk factors that together create a much higher risk of heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome includes:

• Obesity
• High triglyceride levels
• Low HDL cholesterol
• High blood pressure, even if currently treated with medications
• Elevated blood sugar levels

Those without these already existing risk factors  are at significantly less risk of type 2 diabetes while taking statins.

How risky is taking statins when it comes to developing type 2 diabetes?

“Research shows a roughly 10% risk increase for developing type 2 diabetes if you’re taking statins,” said Shoup. “An evaluation of 13 trials that included over 90,000 participants found that when 255 people were treated with statin medication for four years, there was one extra case of diabetes while preventing more than five serious cardiovascular events.”

Essentially, like any medication, statins do carry some risk. The benefits that come from using them, however, will likely far outweigh the potential problems. A candid discussion with your doctor is needed to make sure that statin therapy is the right choice for you.

Speak with your doctor about your type 2 diabetes risk factors

“Guidelines from the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the European Society of Cardiology and more are all very clear,” said Shoup. “The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is not a reason to avoid using statins when it’s the right treatment for the patient.”

If you’re concerned, speak with your doctor or cardiologist about the potential for issues with the medication and how your unique family history, medical history and other risk factors might play into what treatment is right for you.