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Statins

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paul_round

Active Member
Messages
32
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I've been diagnosed type 2 for 6 months now and have been keeping my BS in the 6-7 range, adopting the LHCF diet has helped, (Initial reading of 24 200MG slow release metformin a day)
My cholesterol was high, 30. I know high cholesterol goes with diabetes, but still very high. I had a fasting blood test two weeks ago and it had dropped to 14, which was good progress, I thought, however my doctor has now put me on statins, a low dose of 10mg to start with. But, my BS has now shot up to 11-12, is this something i should worry about? or is it par for the course when taking statins.
 
Cholesterol 30? What units Paul? Do you have a breakdown of the cholesterol components (should be on the printout from the test - Total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides).
 
What units were your cholesterol results in? Do you really mean 30? Above 5 is considered high.

There is a warning on the instructions for statins that they can cause raised blood sugar levels in some people. The NICE recommendations say, however, that they should still be given to diabetics as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. My GP told me "we give them to all diabetics" The one size fits all theory. I refused mine.

There are many threads on the forums about statins if you have a search.
 
Sorry Rod, no printout, it's just from memory of what I saw on the screen.
My main concern though is what the statins are doing to my BS.
 
paul_round said:
Sorry Rod, no printout, it's just from memory of what I saw on the screen.
My main concern though is what the statins are doing to my BS.
Click to expand...

You need the breakdown before you can make a reasonable decision on whether to take them or not. Total cholesterol is meaningless without the breakdown. I suggest you ask for a print out.
 
Ask the receptionist for a print out of your most recent blood tests. They should do this.

You should not have to see medical staff to get a copy.
 
You may have to write a letter to yr GP requesting a printout of your blood tests. I had to and pay as well for the printed paper.
 
Paul

Do you have a history of high cholesterol in your family. Do any of your parents, siblings also have such high levels?

Was the drop from thirty to fourteen achieved before or after you were prescribed the statin?

I agree that you need to obtain a printout of your full lipid profile i.e. HDL , LDL, triglycerides.

Statins get a lot of bad press and a lot of people would never agree to take them, but if your lipid levels really are these high it is difficult to see how you would be able to manage without them.

If the statin does elevate your glucose levels you should ask your doctor to put you on a different one that perhaps will agree with you more.

Pavlos
 
Popping in to the doctors tomorrow to pick a copy of my test results, so will update when I have them.
 
IHs... They are not allowed to charge for a standard printout of blood tests. Their charges should be displayed openly in the practice for Patients to see. They can charge for insurance letters etc, again charges have to be displayed.
 
donnellysdogs said:
IHs... They are not allowed to charge for a standard printout of blood tests. Their charges should be displayed openly in the practice for Patients to see. They can charge for insurance letters etc, again charges have to be displayed.
Click to expand...

If they charge for blood test results to be printed, inform the CQC via the CQC website that this is occurring at your Practice....
 
Hi my BS rose when I started taking Statins and pushed them from pre-diabetic levels to diabetic and I was put onto Januvia. I had to come off the Statins for other reasons and my levels dropped again to 40 at my last test. I'm now off the Januvia and due to have another blood test to see if I can stay off them - my levels currently read between 4.8 and 6.8.
 
30 seems extremely high as does a reading of 14, I do wonder if you've misheard what was said Paul.

As mentioned to ask for a full lipid breakdown of your cholesterol (providing they did one when you last had bloods taken) as that will give you a better idea of whether you should be taking a statin or not, however these are the target cholesterol levels that they want people with diabetes to aim for:

  • Your total cholesterol level should be below 4.0mmol/l.
  • LDL levels should be less than 2.0mmol/l.
  • HDL levels should be 1.0mmol/l or above in men and 1.2mmol/l or above in women.
  • Triglyceride levels should be 1.7mmol/l or less.
 
Hope you can get a print out of the levels, 30 is startlingly high. I took statins from the start of diagnosis just over 4 years ago, and my "good" level was 3.5 can't remember wat the "bad" was. I take mine at night before bed but not noticed that they have any effect of my BS levels in the morning - I'm normall between 5.5 & 6.0
 
Hi. Yes, stains do raise BS a bit. Find out what your cholesterol level actually was and like amny of us make a judgement on whether to take stains or not and how much. BTW diabetes doesn't in itself raise cholesterol levels.
 
Daibell said:
Hi. Yes, stains do raise BS a bit. Find out what your cholesterol level actually was and like amny of us make a judgement on whether to take stains or not and how much. BTW diabetes doesn't in itself raise cholesterol levels.
Click to expand...
However Diabetes does increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, which is why Diabetic patients are generally pointed at Statins. There are also potential benefits relating to chronic kidney disease, although, from the studies I've read, they wouldn't be a reason on their own to take Statins.
 
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