atorvastatin and BG

Ralphb

Member
Messages
11
I’ve been T2 for 5 years and have been able to control mainly with low carb.

I recently got prescribed atorvastatin and it seems to have had an impact.

Used to be around 9 ish first thing in morning as I tend to get dawn syndrome effect. Then 6-8 during the say.
But currently keep getting 11-13 in the morning first thing.

Anyone else had similar effects.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I wouldn't take statins unless prescribed by a cardiologist.
 

Daphne917

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,320
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I’ve been T2 for 5 years and have been able to control mainly with low carb.

I recently got prescribed atorvastatin and it seems to have had an impact.

Used to be around 9 ish first thing in morning as I tend to get dawn syndrome effect. Then 6-8 during the say.
But currently keep getting 11-13 in the morning first thing.

Anyone else had similar effects.
When I was diagnosed in 2012 my hba1c was 48 and I was prescribed Pravastatin because ‘all diabetics should be on statins’ - obviously I know different now and my Hba1c increased to 54. I came off the statins (with GPs consent) due to other side effects and my hba1c returned to normal levels and have remained there ever since. Another GP at the practice has now annotated my records with ‘statin intolerant’ as neither of us want to take the risk of it happening again.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Cholesterol ratio not good.
Refused them for 4 years but ratio not improved so reluctantly agreed.
Would you care to share the full lipid panel?
Most doctors have little to know idea about "good" or "bad" cholesterol levels or ratios.
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I wouldn't take statins unless prescribed by a cardiologist.
I wouldn't trust a cardio with regard to statins. Few in the medical profession keep themselves fully informed on the subject. My cardio suggested taking loads of statins to get my total way down without any discussion of ratios and the danger of a level that was too low. In other ways he is an excellent cardio.
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I’ve been T2 for 5 years and have been able to control mainly with low carb.

I recently got prescribed atorvastatin and it seems to have had an impact.

Used to be around 9 ish first thing in morning as I tend to get dawn syndrome effect. Then 6-8 during the say.
But currently keep getting 11-13 in the morning first thing.

Anyone else had similar effects.
Statins will always increase your BS by a small amount. What you see is normal.
 

Ralphb

Member
Messages
11
It feels like a bit of a down hill battle on this.
Take statins as cholesterol ratio not good.
Now they are recommending I go on metformin to reduce BG levels.
 

bulkbiker

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Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
It feels like a bit of a down hill battle on this.
Take statins as cholesterol ratio not good.
Now they are recommending I go on metformin to reduce BG levels.
Which ratio wasn't "good" though.. there are different measures some more important than others.
 

Dr Snoddy

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,325
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Trolls
Hi. Metformin is a good safe drug and will help reduce BS by a small amount.
I hope this is not off topic. Metformin is one of the SAFER drugs around unless it depletes your B12 levels or has nasty effects on gut function!
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Serum cholesterol 4.3 mmol
HDL 0.78 mmol
Serum/HDL ratio 5.5

Nothing bad about a 4.3 total.. HDL might be a bit low any idea what the triglycerides were and how long had you fasted before the blood was taken?
 

Ralphb

Member
Messages
11
Nothing bad about a 4.3 total.. HDL might be a bit low any idea what the triglycerides were and how long had you fasted before the blood was taken?

Yep it is my HDL being low that seems to cause fun with their ratios so they want to get my bad even lower as it seems my good doesn’t want to increase.

18 hour fast.
No idea on TRI they don’t seem to record those
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Yep it is my HDL being low that seems to cause fun with their ratios so they want to get my bad even lower as it seems my good doesn’t want to increase.

18 hour fast.
No idea on TRI they don’t seem to record those

In that case you didn't get a full lipid panel and your doc is a bit premature in prescribing statins for you (assuming they have any idea what they do anyway..)

Here's a little something we prepared earlier...

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/
 
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JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Yep it is my HDL being low that seems to cause fun with their ratios so they want to get my bad even lower as it seems my good doesn’t want to increase.

18 hour fast.
No idea on TRI they don’t seem to record those
We're not in a position to tell someone not to take their meds. But Bulk's got a good grasp of the material, so certainly worth listening to there, as well as to what your glucose meter is telling you. And I personally don't care what my cholesterol does; I'm never ever, ever taking statins again. Your choice though, so have a read around and make an informed choice. No need to rush it.
 

Ralphb

Member
Messages
11
In that case you didn't get a full lipid panel and your doc is a bit premature in prescribing statins for you (assuming they have any idea what they do anyway..)

Here's a little something we prepared earlier...

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

Thanks for this.
My numbers before statins were between 6-9 with a number of mornings around 10.

Is metformin something I should listen to them about. ?

Got me thinking now if any of there “advise” is actually founded or if they are just reading the checklist.
 

bulkbiker

BANNED
Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks for this.
My numbers before statins were between 6-9 with a number of mornings around 10.

Is metformin something I should listen to them about. ?

Got me thinking now if any of there “advise” is actually founded or if they are just reading the checklist.

Your blood sugar numbers you are talking about right?

6-9 with FBG of 10 mmol/l is far higher than I would consider good.
How low carb was your diet?
Any idea how many grams of carbs per day?

I'd hazard a guess at too many for your body to be happy with.
 

Ralphb

Member
Messages
11
Your blood sugar numbers you are talking about right?

6-9 with FBG of 10 mmol/l is far higher than I would consider good.
How low carb was your diet?
Any idea how many grams of carbs per day?

I'd hazard a guess at too many for your body to be happy with.

Less than 100g of carbs a day.
Usual routine:
Breakfast 2 eggs
Lunch salad/protein
Dinner something freshly cooked.

I don’t eat pasta/bread/rice or pretty much anything that has high carbs.

Exercise pretty much 10k steps a day and few time a week 30 mins on bike.

I’m leaning towards dropping the statins after reading all the info and seeing if that returns my BGs back to their previous level.