Diabetes link to Statins

[Sally66]

Which statin was this? I'm interested to know cos my GP wants me on them and I'm very sceptical.

 

[moonchip]

Which statin was this? I'm interested to know cos my GP wants me on them and I'm very sceptical.

Hello @Sally66

The statins I'm NOT taking are Atorvastatin

My best friend, also a T2 is currently on statins, has been for 3 weeks and his BG is all over the place

Another friend tried them for 3 weeks and gave up on them as they were ruining his golf (avid player) - had no stretngth to walk let alone swing an iron

When queried, my GP said yes, there is a link between taking statins & developing diabetes

I haven't touched mine for 3 months now

 

[dawnmc]

The cynic in me thinks that as statins are known to increase the risk of getting diabetes, the pharma can rake in more dosh by doling out metformin. Win win eh. Also don't have pineapple with statins - forgotten why. And q10 is a must when on statins.

 

[Fayefaye1429]

Q10?

 

[dawnmc]

Google it.

 

[donnellysdogs]

No grapefruit juice or grapefruit on statins either.

 

[kesun]

Go did say there was others to try this one apparently has least side effects

Hmm, that's just what my GP said, then when I had bad side effects he offered to change me to a statin with fewer side effects. But I'm grateful I tried statins, as that's how my underlying Q10 deficiency came to light.

Kate

 

[Eurobuff]

Q10?

Q10 is a supplement that you can get from health food shops. Taking statins make you deficient in this. If you want to read about all diabetes medications, what they do to your body and what supplements you can take to combat this, you can find it in Patrick Holford's book "Say No To Diabetes". He also has a website where you can find a lot of information for free.

 

[Indy51]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10

 

[Pinkorchid]

Yes always take them at night my GP told me that is when our bodies make the cholesterol

Just wondered how would we know if we are deficient in Q10 what would the symptoms be. I have taken statins for a few years now I have never had any problem with them but don't know if I am deficient in Q10

 

[zand]

Here's a link about statins and diabetes.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150507145328.htm

 

[zand]

Here's a link abut symptoms of low Q10

http://www.livestrong.com/article/91983-coenzyme-q10-deficiency-symptoms/

Low Q10 can cause heart problems that's one of the reasons I won't take statins.

 

[nigelho]

Which statin was this? I'm interested to know cos my GP wants me on them and I'm very sceptical.

Some folk get extremely 'sick' even taking 1 or 2 tablets. Statins made me so ill/sick I spent 2 days in bed and terrible headache. Surgery tried another statin which was worst. I was given simvastatin then another statin, so now I will never take any form of statin.

 

[kesun]

Just wondered how would we know if we are deficient in Q10 what would the symptoms be. I have taken statins for a few years now I have never had any problem with them but don't know if I am deficient in Q10

My Q10 deficiency symptoms were quite similar to the side-effects often reported for statins: tiredness, especially in the afternoons, muscle pain and tiredness, especially in the backs of my legs and when walking upstairs or uphill, memory and concentration lapses, increased migraine with aura, irritability. These got a lot worse when I was pregnant and unbearably worse when I tried statins.

It was after the statin experience that the consultant suspected my Q10 deficiency. Within a day of starting Q10 I felt energetic as I hadn't done since childhood. After taking it a few days I forgot a dose and got quite a bad headache, which got better an hour or two after I took the next dose. I was worried that this might mean Q10 is highly addictive, but apparently it just shows I really need it.

Although I have a diagnosis, Q10 apparently isn't available on NHS prescription. I buy mine from Sainsburys, as theirs come in oil capsules (better than tablets for absorbancy) and are often on three for two offer.

Kate

 

[Pinkorchid]

My Q10 deficiency symptoms were quite similar to the side-effects often reported for statins: tiredness, especially in the afternoons, muscle pain and tiredness, especially in the backs of my legs and when walking upstairs or uphill, memory and concentration lapses, increased migraine with aura, irritability. These got a lot worse when I was pregnant and unbearably worse when I tried statins.

It was after the statin experience that the consultant suspected my Q10 deficiency. Within a day of starting Q10 I felt energetic as I hadn't done since childhood. After taking it a few days I forgot a dose and got quite a bad headache, which got better an hour or two after I took the next dose. I was worried that this might mean Q10 is highly addictive, but apparently it just shows I really need it.

Although I have a diagnosis, Q10 apparently isn't available on NHS prescription. I buy mine from Sainsburys, as theirs come in oil capsules (better than tablets for absorbancy) and are often on three for two offer.

Kate

I have taken statins for about 8 years. 20mg of Simvastatin... but I have never had any of those symptoms and I have always felt well so maybe I am not deficient in Q10 but I will ask my doctor when I see her next if I should take a Q10 supplement

 

[Enclave]

After 10 years on statins .. I do have HF but never high cholesterol.. I have just stopped them with the gidence of my HFN ..the side effects were making life not worth living .... My diabetes nurse wants me to still take them. I truly believe that the statins caused my diabetes and other problems I had when taking them... Weight gain as I was in too much joint pain to move, and just not feeling right in myself. I have been to the Drs over the years with my health problems and the laughed at me for questioning this drug.
So when diabetes was included in my list of health problems ( it's says in the leaflet statins can cause diabetes) the wife stepped in.. After a long and frank discussions with the HFN ... I was weened off the statins ..guess what ... As the statin dose reduced so did my joint pain...so did my sugar levels ..and I can increases my movement ...with the help of a LCHF diet I have lost five and a half stone and walk for miles with the dog. Best thing I ever did getting off the statin.. And wish I could get those wasted years back, from when I listened to my dr and took statins

 

[Peter B]

Which statin was this? I'm interested to know cos my GP wants me on them and I'm very sceptical.

I'm on sinvastatin I have been since July 2000when I had a big heart attack I developed type2 in September 2014 and on metformin 1500 ml a day I haven't had any side effects from the station and I'm on 40 ml a day my sister brother dad and cousins all have diabetes so I'm thinking it might be passed through the family I don't know

 

[Heathenlass]

Cheers guys, this is really helpful. I want to try diet and exercise and believe I can get both glucose and cholesterol levels down. Everyone seems to have bad things to report about statins. Think I need to research it really well. I have lost a bit of confidence in GP knowledge on all of this can you request a referral to a specialist?

In short, yes you can. Ask for a referral to the Lipid and Metabolic Clinic, where the advice is much more personalised and the options are much better understood. That is what the clinic specialises in, so they can probably tailor a system that works for you, which doesn't necessarily include taking statins. Other drugs and interventions are available .

Signy

 

[Eurobuff]

My Q10 deficiency symptoms were quite similar to the side-effects often reported for statins: tiredness, especially in the afternoons, muscle pain and tiredness, especially in the backs of my legs and when walking upstairs or uphill, memory and concentration lapses, increased migraine with aura, irritability. These got a lot worse when I was pregnant and unbearably worse when I tried statins.

It was after the statin experience that the consultant suspected my Q10 deficiency. Within a day of starting Q10 I felt energetic as I hadn't done since childhood. After taking it a few days I forgot a dose and got quite a bad headache, which got better an hour or two after I took the next dose. I was worried that this might mean Q10 is highly addictive, but apparently it just shows I really need it.

Although I have a diagnosis, Q10 apparently isn't available on NHS prescription. I buy mine from Sainsburys, as theirs come in oil capsules (better than tablets for absorbancy) and are often on three for two offer.

Kate

Hi @kesun (not sure if I'm doing this tagging thing right). I'm just reading about your symptoms, and the ones from the link on this thread, it describes my mother exactly. She has been taking Simvastatin for over 10 years now. I've just been reading a bit about the side effects of Q10 and it mentions stomach upset, diarrhoea, vomiting & nausea amongst others. Can I ask if you have suffered any side effects from taking Q10, also when & how much you take. I've looked on the Sainsbury website and the one I can find also has vitamin B1, is this the one you are taking?

 

[kesun]

Hi @kesun (not sure if I'm doing this tagging thing right). I'm just reading about your symptoms, and the ones from the link on this thread, it describes my mother exactly. She has been taking Simvastatin for over 10 years now. I've just been reading a bit about the side effects of Q10 and it mentions stomach upset, diarrhoea, vomiting & nausea amongst others. Can I ask if you have suffered any side effects from taking Q10, also when & how much you take. I've looked on the Sainsbury website and the one I can find also has vitamin B1, is this the one you are taking?

Hi Eurobuff,

Yes, that's the one: I find one 100mg capsule a day is enough. No idea what the B1 adds. I've had no side effects at all from Q10, but possibly the B1 addresses the side effects others have reported? I started on a 30mg a day capsule, increased it to 60mg after a week then switched to the 100mg capsule after about a month.

I do hope that Q10 helps your mother. I don't know anything about her health, but I wouldn't take statins even if I could tolerate them: there's no evidence I've seen that statins help women avoid heart problems, and some evidence that high cholesterol is actually protective after the menopause.

Kate