While a recent study by Canadian researchers found a link between certain types of statins and Type 2 diabetes, the news wasn’t universally bad for users of the popular anti-cholesterol drugs.
A story in U.S. News and World Report says the researchers identified stronger statins including Lipitor as problematic.
But other types of statins performed more favorably in terms of diabetes. Study authors wrote that some forms of the drugs may even be beneficial to patients at high risk of diabetes.
For the study, the researchers used information on 500,000 Ontario residents. They concluded that people taking Lipitor had a 22 percent higher risk of new-onset diabetes.
The Canadian study adds to a growing body of research associating Lipitor with certain health risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently added warnings to Lipitor’s label, advising that it may raise blood sugar levels and thus the risk of diabetes. The new label also warns that it could cause memory loss.
According to U.S. News and World Report, people with type 2 diabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels because their bodies don’t make or properly use insulin.
Researchers theorized that certain statins may impair insulin secretion and inhibit insulin release, which could help explain the study’s findings.
Patients should consult their doctors before making any changes in their medication. A consultation with a Lipitor lawyer is also important if there are significant injuries.
See the story here:
https://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/05/24/could-statins-raise-diabetes-risk
