Hello. My husband has been taking 80mg Atorvastatin for a year now. After his yearly mot he’s been told his blood sugar is high, not diabetic but high. He was in hospital for 12 weeks this time last year and he was checked daily with a finger prick and perfect. I’m not sure what could have happened in between! Our diet isn’t perfect but not bad so I was wondering if anyone has had high blood sugar as a result of taking Atorvastatin and if so can you reduce it by diet? His cholesterol is perfect!
Thank you 😊
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Babyelephant-
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That is a positive that his Cholesterol is good but they do say statins can higher your sugar levels so it could be a possibility
I was on 80mg but could not tolerate it so had to go down to 40 mg maybe as your Husbands Cholesterol is so good it could be something you could ask if he could try a lower dose been monitored of course and see if it makes a difference to his sugar levels
Of course the main culprits can be sugar and carbs and eating to late at night so something you could try and look at
Thank you. We don’t seem to have anyone to ask at the moment. The GP doesn’t want to change medication as my husband is still under the hospital but the consultant is too busy for even a phone appointment. We’ll keep trying!
I couldn’t deal with 80mg either (horrendous shoulder muscle pain) and couldn’t get a GO appt to discuss for a while - I split the pills so 40mg instead of 80mg / should pain not gone but considerably better / finally caught up with GP and cardiologist and they were both happy for me to go to 40mg and cholesterol still good
I asked this very question when I was in getting a blood test to see how my cholesterol was doing, I had also recently been told my sugar level was at 43 and had read statins can play a part in raising your sugar levels anyway the nurse told me this was nonsense and it was what I ate was the problem not the statins.
What was your husband's cholesterol level before taking statin? Mine was 276 and LDL 220 before, and after taking 20mg atorvastatin for a month they were 136 and 80
The problem was my blood glucose which used to be in the pre-diabetic range of 120's fasting, soared to almost 300 and 2hr after meal was 546, I don't know if it has something to do with atorvastatin, but after getting diagnosed with diabetes, my doctor told me to keep taking atorvastatin, I've been taking 20mg a day for more than 5 yr now, and I keep my blood sugar under control with insulin shot, 18 units long-acting insulin, HbA1c 6-7% with not too strict diet
Oh wow, your blood glucose really did go up! I hope you're doing OK with the insulin, it sounds like it's all under control now.My husbands cholesterol is 3.6 now but that's all they would tell him, its like it's all top secret and they don't really want to tell him!
We feel like we're in limbo and aren't sure how much exercise he should actually do, i really worry about him doing too much and everything going wrong again. The hospital are going to be in touch at some point but we've been waiting months. He walks and has quite a physical job, doesn't drink or smoke. His diet is alot better than it used to be so we'll get there. Thank you for the link, I'll have a read.
Exactly the same has happened to me this week! Triple bypass 2021. Sugar levels normal then. Mot now shows raised sugar levels. Atorvastatin 80mg can put levels up by 5%. Diet has never been bad but stringent since 2021. Reach your own conclusions! I am keeping an eye and if still raised at next mot will see gp and seek a statin that does not raise sugar levels so much. Nurse said to wait till then.
Statins raise blood sugar , diabetes high risk , they will ask you to enrol on a diabetic prevention course, also they will tell you that with statins benefits outweigh the risks,
I had bypass in October 2021 and been on 8080mg Astorvastatin since. My blood sugar levels have gone up since both of these 'events' - but GP has advised watching diet and above all....plenty of exercise.
Well we would wouldn't we but on the assumption that he is on 80mg, I am presuming he has had some sort of Cardiac event. 80mg is the dose given usually post MI and usually for life if tolerated. Saying this, perhaps Babyelephant could tell us
My Cholesterol is well controlled and has been for some years (with the help of Statins) BUT I had a return of Angina pain in September 2021 only 4 years after a bypass and in October of 21 I had 2 stents fitted by rotablation (drilling into the arteries) as they were totally furred up.
Now I don't know what effect the increase of statins is having until I have the blood test results but this is one of the reasons they increase the dosage of Statins.
Well it's my understanding that it's cholesterol that is allegedly the major cause of blocked arteries and by reducing the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood lowers the risk of heart disease, a theory I don't actually believe in. I think it's inflammation of the artery walls that causes the body to send repair chemicals to the site and one of them happens to be cholesterol which combines with other chemicals and it's this combination that forms a 'scab' on the artery wall which ends up blocking the artery. Check out Dr Malcolm Kendrick for a detailed examination of the idea.
Why would you say that? Surely lower cholesterol reduces the risks but very unlikely it can completely remove the risk of blockages. The problem may have started before heather started taking statins and slowly built up.
There's more meds than statins that can increase your blood sugar. I was told I was prediabetic a few years ago but when I checked on the BHF website 4 of my medications could contribute to higher levels. I was put on Dapagliflozin for my heart last year so I'll be interested to see what my levels are now when I get my next check in July
Hi..I'm in the same position, on 80mg, and apparently pre-diabetic..I was told by my cardio nurse that its very common to have high blood sugar when on higher dose statin..🤔
Hello... As a lifelong diabetic I am puzzled by your comment his sugars are high but not diabetic high? Does he test his own BGs or do you mean his HbA1c is in the pre-diabetic range.
There was a study that someone who is pre-diabetic would develop Type II 6 - 9 months earlier if they took statins compared to someone similar who did not if neither made appropriate lifestyle changes. I would suggest limiting carbs to around 100gm per day and increased exercise if physically possible. The risks of stopping statins outweigh those of developing Type II a few months earlier.
It also has to be remembered that Type II is also a disease of age and not just lifestyle! By 80.one in three has diabetes. This means despite rubbish claims it is not reversible but that by lifestyle changes the need for medication can be held off for years even decades.
If BGs cannot be normalised then medication should be taken as the side effects of elevated BGs should not be estimated. On my amputee journey I have met people who have had an amputation after a mere ten years of (usually neglected) Type II!
So my personal opinion is keep taking the statin and if he cannot get his HbA1c into the normal range within the next six months by lifestyle changes diabetic medication is a must.
Hi After my heart attack I was ok with blood sugars for about three months. However, I too was put on 80mg Atorvastatin. After my 3 months blood check I was pre diabetic to the end of the scale. I was first told by my GP that the statin was not to blame, but I was actually low weight and didn't eat many carbs and sugars. So I questioned him, he decided to send my on a Pre diabetic awareness course. This is available on the NHS. At those classes I have picked up lots of tips such as that exercise is the key to reducing your blood sugar, especially after eating. it is something to do with your muscles absorbing the sugar. A 20 min walk after your main meal is a good idea.
In the US statins have a warning on the boxes saying this may cause diabetes. Doctors don't seem to know why this affects some people and not others. My father had diabetes and the same happened to him, he was diagnosed after taking high dose statins. My son has just started taking statins and 40mg increased his sugar levels, so could this could be genetic connection.
I hope he gets his meds changed if required, but if not ask the GP about the Pre-diabetic course its helped me to reduce my blood sugars. xx
I have been on 80mg for 11 years. A few years back I went into the pre diabetic group, went to the course provided by NHS. I would say our diet is not perfect but definitely not bad. I improved my diet and increased my exercise. This brought my levels back down. Funnily enough I have just had a blood test and my levels had gone up to 41, the cut off being 40 so just into the pre diabetic group but I know what to do. I think my main problem is lack of exercise so that's what I will be doing. If your husband gets offered the pre diabetic course, on my experience its worth it. I can't really comment personally about high blood sugars and statins as its not really been a problem. All I would also ask, is there any family history of diabetes? Good luck with it all.
Hi there, I didn't know there was a link between statins and High blood sugar! I'm learning things every day!! I have never had a problem and have been taking atorvastatin for 3 years!? I hope you get to the bottom of this
I take this too and also have been told I’m pre-diabetic. It says on the information sheet that comes with the atorvastatin 80 that raised blood sugar is a side-effect. So I’d like to cut to 40 as well. Having blood test next week — if cholesterol ok will ask my gp about going down to 40. If I can ever get hold of my gp but that’s another problem.
Hi there and thank you. If I am notified then I will definitely have my annual bloods done!! It's in the lap of the gods though the way the NH S is just now. Can I ask what T2 is? I've not heard of this?
Oh!! So sorry!! I'm getting confused with the statins post from someone else!? My pist was about a fast heart beat. Good luck with whatever is happening with you today!!
I worry because 2 of his grafts have failed and we are waiting to hear from the consultant about what's next. I'm not sure that pushing himself too far is wise without some guidance. We aren't planning on changing any medication, I just wanted to know if anyone had been in a similar situation.
Thank you for all the helpful answers to my post. I'm sorry it seems to have caused a couple of disagreements. Sometimes just knowing that other people have been through the same as you helps a lot and stops it being such a huge worry. Xx
No, no pain at all since he came home from his last stay in hospital in october which is amazing. Its just all a bit scary not really knowing what's actually going on. He takes isosorbide mononitrate but hasn't used his spray for months 😊
Please just try to ignore any disagreements, Babyelephant, and read those answers which may provide you with some help (sometimes these 'disagreements' just arise from nowhere). I'm afraid I'm of no use with your question as I wasn't even aware of any correlation with raised sugar levels and statins until you posted your interesting question. I do know, however, that my liver is totally intolerant to statins (diagnosed whilst in hospital after a heart attack and triple bypass last year) and I take a medication called Ezetimibe which does help to lower cholesterol but works in a slightly different, and slightly less effective, way than a statin. It's usually prescribed together with a statin, but as I say, unfortunately I can't take them.
Our GP's surgery has recently employed a surgery pharmacist and I had a very interesting conversation with her just a couple of weeks ago - she was able answer my questions with regard to one of my own medications. Perhaps it might be easier to have a chat with yours, if your surgery has one - certainly beats having to wait for a GP's appointment! Just to send every best wish to you both and hopefully your situation will be resolved soon. If you have time, please let us know how you both get on - and don't forget to look after yourself too! Carol x
Hi Carol. Thank you for such a lovely reply, you made me smile. I'm sorry to hear you can't take stations. I'd never heard of that either so I've learnt something today too! I don't think we have a practice pharmacist but I will check. It all still feels quite new and there's a lot to learn but we'll get there.Sarah xx
When is Advice an Opinion and when is an Opinion Advice? It is far too hot to debate the nuances but feel free to write an essay about this topic. You may even change your opinion!
I'm glad I made you smile, Sarah - sometimes it's hard finding a smile when you're on such a scary journey - and it is a scary journey none of us would buy tickets for! I've been extremely lucky in my recovery, and now one year and four months after my bypass, I actually feel better than I did before and hopefully your husbands recovery will take a turn for the better soon. As you say, you'll both get there - (and I'll repeat myself - remember to take care of yourself too, that's a really important part of it all!). I think sometimes people tend to forget that there's at least two people on your particular journey 🤗xox
He felt so much better after his bypass it was amazing but the excitement really got taken away after a couple of months when he had pain again. Turned out 2 of his grafts are blocked already. He says he feels great now but it's so difficult not knowing what's actually going on and how bad it is. I try hard not to worry but sometimes I can't help it. I'm really glad you're feeling so much better since your bypass. Xx
I don't want to get in another argument on a sub thread so here is my experience. When I joined some years ago I was overweight, pre diabetic with raised BP and cholesterol. Following MichaelJH 's advice and taking the prescribed statin and ACE inhibitor my weight is now in the normal range as are my BP, HbA1c and cholrstetol. I have also been able to halve the dose of my ACE.
I have my annual check up on 3rd July and I am afraid my blood/sugars will be high too. I am fighting against taking insulin so have adapted my diet, it isn't perfect but I am taking 3 different tablets to reduce my blood sugars but they don't seem to be working.
I too am on 80 mgs of Atorvastatin plus 1 other tablet to reduce my Cholesterol. My Cholesterol is well below accepted levels but in October '21 I had 2 stents fitted by drilling as the arteries were very furred up. Depending on what happens on the 3rd July I am going to ask they reduce the Statins as I am not sure what good they are doing if my Cholesterol levels are good, I am not looking to stop taking them, just reduce them to maybe 40 mgs.
I am interested in reading these replies (I haven't as yet) but I certainly can relate to this.
I've just had a quick look at your profile, you've been through a lot. I hope your check up goes well in July. If you get a chance can you let us know if you reduce your stations? X
I have a feeling they will raise the idea of insulin again, I think I'll suggest lowering the dose of Statin and see if doing that lowers my blood/sugars.
I am usually a compliant patient and luckily don't have too many problems with the medication I am on (9 different tablets) apart from feeling fatigued a lot of the time, but I do feel it is right to voice concerns or look for options if possible.
What would be considered a high dose for a statin?
For example, would anything below 100mg be considered low, and anything above that high? I appreciate they probably do not come in 100mg dosages - just trying to get an idea.
According to this, my mum is on a “high-intensity dose”. She was recently diagnosed with diabetes too. I thought it was related to her diet and being overweight. The statins are making me question that now 🤔
Hiya, i have type 2 diabetes and also taking atorvastatin for cholesterol, i personally would not say it's the atorvastatin that's causing your husbands high blood sugar as i was diagnosed with diabetes well before starting statins, infact my diabetes is now in remission and my cholesterol has significantly lowered due to diet changes such as low carb, cutting out saturated fats and sugar, i am still taking atorvastatin (recommended by gp) with no effect on my blood sugars, hope this helps, i would suggest your husband continue to take his statins however it's he's choice but the benefits are there 😊
what makes you think that your lower cholesterol level is due to diet changes? As far as my experience (in my case), diet changes DO make a significant difference in blood sugar level, but not in cholesterol level, most cholesterol is produced within your body not from food intake, IMO it was the statin that lowered your cholesterol, I lowered mine by taking 20mg atorvastatin from 276 to 136, in mmol/L = 7.14 to 3.52
Same as exercise, only by moderate exercise without diet changes and medicines I could lower my triglyceride from 350 to 80, or 3.95 to 0.9, But my cholesterol level won't even drop a bit with vigorous exercise
Thank you runinthepark, last part of your reply is what i meant, statins with combination of diet changes.Also i was just replying to babyelephants post that MY personal journey statins have not caused any affect to MY blood sugars 👍
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