Some of us with type two diabetes also have 'dyslipidemia', as well as the hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia in my case, which basically means, in practical terms, that along with the shot blood glucose regulation and too much insulin being shot out to cope with the too much glucose being shot out of one's shot liver (well, you get the picture), one also has shot cholesterol levels. Everything is all shot together! As it were. (It's about the role of free fatty acids in relation to the glucose and the insulin, and the lipid system when it goes wrong basically all being 'wrong' together.)
I have had a high LDL level for a bit over 10 years, before the diabetes kicked in five years ago. High LDL can be the case regardless of plumpness/fatness/BMI, and weight loss and subsequently being normal weighted (which is my case). I have high LDL levels regardless of what kind of diet I am eating.
So of course my medical practice wanted me to go on statins, upon diagnosis of type two. I said an initial no, and put them 'on hold' until I did my own research. (Medical professionals are basically obliged to suggest/prescribe statins in this scenario. They are going against 'best practice' if they do not, and they are judged on best practices.)
I went away and booked the lit from the library, read up as much as I could on it, watched youtubes, watched docos (particularly a fan of 'Statin Nation'), discussed and read other diabetics on this and other forums on the subject. And listened a lot to my parents who both had on-statin experiences (and as I share so much DNA with them, etc etc, I take close note of how drugs and so on affect them).
I came back with a definitive 'no', and talk a lot about the fact that I particularly keep an eye on my fasting trig levels (which shows how your body is dealing with the fat you are eating), and watch my trig/HDL ratio, and I would love to be tested for calcification of my arteries, but that is probably a fantasy-wish. My trig/HDL ratio is pretty good. My blood pressure is pretty good (I bought a blood pressure meter to test at home for a fullsome profile to discuss with my GP in light of the no-statins decision.)
I wish the labs would stop suggesting I be tested for familial hyperlipidemia (hey lab-folks - it's the diabetes!).
I personally believe it is a situation where you absolutely have to balance up the info - the pros and the cons - for your personal condition and health status, absolutely taking on also what your medical professionals are suggesting and prescribing. Bearing in mind that underlying this whole topic - it's about your cardio vascular disease and event risk - and strokes and CVD generally, I believe from memory, is what kills about 50% of those with diabetes too early. (Can't remember where I read that stat.)
Anyway, I hope my experience helped a bit, with your own decision-making process.
