ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. - Concern is bubbling for millions of Americans who take the class of prescription drugs called "statins." Statins have proven an effective way to reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease and stroke. However, there may be an increased risk of diabetes.
A study by the Federally-funded Women's Health Initiative indicated a 48 percent increase in the risk for developing diabetes in post-menopausal women. The study was published online in the "Archives of Internal Medicine."
"The risk of heart disease is so high in people with diabetes and lowering the cholesterol is a key way to prevent that heart disease, so we have been focused on getting people on statins at a really high rate," explained Richard Bergenstal, M.D., Executive Director of Park Nicollet's International Diabetes Center and past President of the American Diabetes Association.
Phillip Kofron, M.D., Park Nicollet Cardiologist, questioned some of the methodology of the study, which he said was a combination of four studies, some of which showed small increases in the blood sugar levels of some statin users.
"It is better for us to think about that there may be a small risk, but the numbers, we are still not sure about," said Kofron. "I think the most important thing that the headline saying that 'higher doses of statins may increase the risk of diabetes' is not to stop the medication based on a headline."
Both Kofron and Bergenstal insisted that patients should consult their personal physician before starting or stopping use of a statin drug to consider the risks and benefits for each individual.
Cardiologist Kofron said "the reduction of eschemic stroke and heart attack and deaths from cardio vascular diseases far outweighs the small risk of slight increase in blood sugars in some people taking statins."
"I think these kinds of studies make you stop and think a little bit to say now exactly who is the right candidate? Are we personalizing, individualizing our therapies appropriately?" said Bergenstal. "We definitely want to prevent heart disease, but we do not want to elevate somebody's blood sugar if there are other approaches to it."
Both physicians noted that weight loss and exercise are the best ways to prevent a pre-diabetes condition from moving to diabetes.
"There are 79 million people with pre-diabetes and the most effect therapy is losing weight and exercise," said Bergenstal. "That reduces your risk of going from pre-diabetes into diabetes by 60%."
"There are 26 million people with diabetes...if you have diabetes and you are at risk for heart disease, the statins seem to make a lot of sense," said Bergenstal. "If you do not have diabetes, but you are at risk for diabetes, then I think that this study says if you are going to use to statin, be sure you are checking your blood sugars."
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