According to a study there is new evidence of a potentially worrisome side effect for some women who take medicine to lower cholesterol.
Tens of millions of Americans take medications called statins to lower their cholesterol. Zocor Lipitor, and Crestor are the most popular in that class of medications that reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
But new evidence suggests these drugs, often called wonder drugs, may also be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
The study out Monday from the government's Women's Health Initiative followed more than 150,000 women over 50 with and without heart disease for about ten years and found that those taking statin drugs had a 48 percent greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Today Judy Berek has her diabetes well under control but she was not surprised when she was diagnosed nineteen years ago. Diabetes ran in her family and her weight was way too high.
"I was sort of a perfect candidate," Berek told NBC News.
But she could have had another risk factor: statins, the cholesterol lowering drugs including Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor taken by tens of millions of Americans to cut cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.
Doctors don't know why statins increase diabetes risk but Monday's findings are in line with previous smaller studies. The research does not implicate any single brand.
"We found that this association was true of both low potency and higher potency statins and appeared with shorter term use as well as longer term use," said Dr. Jo Ann Manson, Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Specialists like Dr. Robin Goland emphasize that since heart disease is one of the major complications of diabetes, no one should stop taking their medication, but the risk is something to consider.
"I think that doctors who are starting patients will have to factor that into the equation and think about it especially in lower risk, lower weight women who are being started on it for prevention rather than treatment," said Dr. Goland.
Judy Berek has no plans to stop taking her statin.
"I have to weigh the risks and talk to my doctor," said Berek
Good advice for all patients and another reminder that every drug has both risks and benefits.
By: NBC Chief Science Correspondent Robert Bazell
(Copyright 2012 by NBC. All Rights Reserved.)