So much conflicting info on statins who do you believe? Diabetes UK info on statins states for every 1000 people who take statins over 3 years it prevents7 non fatal heart attacks
4 strokes
2 deaths
It goes on to state that 99% do not benefit but due to the population of the UK being 17.5 million people thousands of heart attacks are prevented.
So I just convinced myself to take the statins but reading this is it worth risking 1 in 300 chance of getting Diabetes?
FH website states 1 in 300 risk of getting diabetes taking statins
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Both state that the benefits of statins outweigh the risks of diabetes.
If you follow a heart healthy diet while on statins, it will reduce your risk of developing diabetes... although it doesn't eliminate the possibility. It's important we take responsibility for our health by taking care of ourselves and monitoring any changes.
If your blood sugar levels become worrying, your GP will take appropriate action.
I assume you are one of the people on here who already have heart disease of some sort (or you wouldn't be on here) perhaps had a heart attack or angina, maybe even a bypass operation. If that is so you are already in a high risk group compared to a member of the general population whose risk profile may be significantly less. So for you the benefits of taking statins are far more significant than the average man or woman and in my view are worth taking in spite of the possibility of side effects. You can be tested for the onset of diabetes and treated accordingly if it occurs, no-one can test you for a likely stroke or a heart attack, only after the event and at that point it may be too late to save your life.
Hello Lowerfield, I convinced myself to take the statins but don't want to take a medication that will lead to another disease and more medication. I must admit I was shocked that they only prevent 2 deaths in 3 years for 1000 people!
I see from your profile you have FH. That means your total natural cholesterol is above 7.5. In my case my natural cholesterol was over 9 when tested over 25 years ago and and in those days there was no such thing as testing for FH or lipid clinics although the chances are I have FH. Anyway I have taken statins since the original diagnosis and that brought my total cholesterol down to about 5.5. However I still had an NSTEMI over 5 years ago and an angiogram found moderate to severe blockage in all of my heart arteries. Subsequent to this an increase to max dose statin has reduced my cholesterol to 4.5 which for someone with cardio issues is probably still too high. So you could be going through the same cycle as me and a HA awaits. Your FH diagnosis recommended treatment regime including statins comes from significant medical experience where the benefits are balanced against the risks. If those that oversee treatment regimes considered statin treatment was inappropriate and brought greater risks from other health issues it wouldn't be offered. So I suggest you take your statin medication as recommended, as I and many other hearties do (in many cases reluctantly), and forget about side effects until and if they arise then deal with them accordingly with the help of the medical professionals who are responsible for your care.
I find what you're saying very interesting. I don't read too many articles on various medications for a variety of health problems because there's so much information out there that I find it difficult to know who and what to believe.I was started on Statins two years ago when I already had chronic kidney disease, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, Menieres disease and a couple of other health problems.
There is a family history of heart problems, cancer, obesity and diabetes. All that said I have found this forum to be extremely helpful, knowledgeable and kind. I have always been of a mind that if I have an on going health problem like heart disease/diabetes and so on to listen to others with same or similar conditions, to speak with my GP, then and if necessary seek further help and advice from a professional doctor or surgeon who has studied for many years in that particular field. I put my life and my trust in them and combine that with a little bit of knowledge of my own, speak with family and friends and listen to others who have been down a similar path to myself and from all that I personally believe I have enough information to make a balanced decision.
Life is a risk. I started with heart problems at the age of 44 and had a 2 x CABG at 45. As part of the protocol I was started on Bisoprolol, Aspirin and Simvastatin. I am now 67. Several members of my family have Diabetes but I’ve had no issues. I’m now on Atorvastatin as one of the new medications I was started on interacted with Simvastatin. I’ve had no further issues. Everyone is different.
Maybe you can ask your Dr to assess your risk for stroke & HA.
I had the following to assess mine: cartoid artery ultrasound for stroke, and CT/ Calcium score for HA (plus a few others because the CT showed high risk)
I take statins and wish I had started sooner, I believe my on-going risk of HA would be lower now if I had.
I’m on Atorvastatin 80. I was pre-diabetic but latest blood test shows I’m not any more (or wasn’t at the time —June? July?). I watch my diet and do exercise. I’d like to decrease the dose if my cardiologist allows it but his take is: you have two clear arteries now (stents) and we want them to stay that way. I’m on a diabetes prevention programme — why not ask your GP about a referral to that if you’re concerned? It’s so complicated!
A research report I read some years ago (but cannot find now) concluded that taking statins brought on Type II 6 - 9 months earlier for persons are risk. However, this could be countered by making appropriate lifestyle changes. It also has to be remembered that Type II besides being in the genes and affected by lifestyle is also a disease of age By 80 one third of people will have Type II to varying degrees which for obvious reasons increases to half in the care/nursing home arena.
So take the statins (unless there is a genuine allergy - very rare) and make the lifestyle changes.
Hi I read some studies on statins and diabetes yesterday after reading the original post.The conclusion from two different studies was that the benefits of statins outweigh the risk of type 2 diabetes. Normally when I do a cross reference like this I would read three different studies but came to the conclusion that two out of a potential there was good enough for me.
I'm reading about a statin free life and found that nattokinase is a great alternative to a statin not had my results yet but will try to let you know, also reading that insulin resistence a major cause of heart disease but this is not common knowledge as yet try to look outside the box and do some research especially of the Doctors they try to keep from you and call them conspiracy theorists.
Yes I have been doing my research but the more I look the more I get confused.I convinced myself to take the statins but don't want to take a medication that will lead to another disease and more medication.
That's why I went on the diabetes UK website and found the information, it did not appear to sell the statins! I must admit I was shocked that they only prevent 2 deaths in 3 years for 1000 people
Statins give you a high risk of diabetes , up to about 50 percent, wenjt on diabetes prevention course, cardiologist said every little thing helps, but overall it will make little difference, since on simvastatin blood sugar levels have increased to pre diabetic levels
And they recommended atorvastatin that is an aggressive statin most likely to give me diabetes. I should have asked at the time why that gave me that one
I can understand your concern around taking statins. I always hate thinking about having to take another pill. I had a HA in March 2022, and at the hospital, I was prescribed 80mg Atorvastatin. I was in that state of disbelief about having a HA in the first place and wondering what all was wrong. I feel like it must be a type of shock to all of us when we have that HA, but it can also be a wake-up call for better future health.
Anyway, no doctor at the hospital explained anything to me about what had happened with the HA, what to expect going forward, or what to know about the new medications. They scheduled me to see my GP in two weeks and to have a nuclear stress test in two weeks. I left the hospital feeling dazed and befuddled.
I talked with my GP about my concerns about taking an 80mg statin for probably the rest of my life. She reviewed the tests that I had had done the night of my HA—various blood tests, EKG, chest x-ray, CT scan, etc.—-and she agreed to put me on 20mg Atorvastatin instead of 80mg. I took the 20mg for maybe 2 -3 months. I was not feeling better—just weak, breathless, and having a racing heart if I just walked from my bedroom into my bathroom.
I saw a new cardiologist about 3 months following my HA. She convinced me to increase my Atorvastatin to 40 mg per day. She still wanted me to take 80 mg, but I declined. I am still taking 40 mg daily, and I feel that it has helped me. My cholesterol has dropped a good deal over the year following my HA. She also increased my beta blocker, Metropolol, from 50mg to 75 mg daily. I still don’t like taking more drugs, but I know that these particular ones have helped me to feel better.
I apologize for telling such a long story, but, honestly, so much in life is a daily risk. Most of us drive automobiles. We think nothing of getting behind the wheel, buckling our seat belt, and motoring on. Have you checked the statistics on the number of people who die each year from auto accidents? Yet, we don’t stop driving.
There are always some risks associated with any medication. As one doctor told me many years ago (not related to my heart), you have to decide whether the benefits of taking a particular drug outweighs possible side effects. That is true!
I would suggest reading all that you can (actual research) related to statins. Members on this forum have provided some links to get you started. Also, talk with your doctor about your concerns with statin drugs. I would also suggest giving it at least 6 months and then review blood test results to examine your cholesterol numbers and your A1C number. Other members also provided great advice about lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.
Hi I had a HA in LAD artery 3 September last year. After 3 months on Atorvastatin I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. HbA1c 47. No medication prescribed, but asked to attend a course to change my diet etc. I did not have a bad diet, didn't have much sugar and carbs, so in my case, I would say definitely the statin has caused it. I remember this happened to my father several years ago after he was put on statins too. I think if your genes are leaning towards diabetes, statins will ignite it. In the US their statin meds boxes carry a warning stating, "this medication may cause diabetes". I've seen a US article which states the risk is 45% increase in blood sugars if you are on 80mgs, it reduces as the dosage reduces.
I don't think our doctors want to admit, or refuse to admit, statins cause diabetes. Yet, it is standard to test for diabetes after statins are prescribed. I have cut carbs to a bare minimum and don't have any sugars at all I have lost 10 kgs in weight in 11 months. I was told on this course that exercise is good to reduce your blood sugars, especially walking after a meal. So hoping my next tests are good.
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