BG levels and statins

[chri5]

Hi, my last Hba1c came in at 39 so I was well pleased however when I told my GP that I had come off statins a few months ago because of side effects he wanted me to start on a different statin, this despite good cholesterol levels (LDL 2.1, HDL 2.1, Trigs 0.9 total 4.6).To keep the peace I agreed to start on 1/2 a tablet daily for 2 weeks then up to 1 a day. I test regularly and had noticed a slight rise in all my results which rose even further when I went to a full tablet dose, when I googled it , it turns out statins can raise your BG levels. Needless to say I have now discontinued the statins and my BG levels are already coming down again. It has taken a lot of hard work to bring my BG levels down to where they are now and I really can`t see the logic of undoing this work for the sake of taking a drug which I don`t think I even need! I would be interested to know if anyone else has been in this situation and what was the outcome in your case?

 

[noblehead]

Your cholesterol levels look fine @chri5, is there another reason why your Dr wants you to take a statin?

 

[chri5]

Your cholesterol levels look fine @chri5, is there another reason why your Dr wants you to take a statin?

Hiya, nope just the usual NHS mantra of " all diabetics should be on a statin because of increased risk of heart problems". Mind you, if I can keep the Hbaic at 39 then technically I shouldn`t be at increased risk of heart problems should I? might try that one out on GP next time I see him.

 

[noblehead]

Hiya, nope just the usual NHS mantra of " all diabetics should be on a statin because of increased risk of heart problems". Mind you, if I can keep the Hbaic at 39 then technically I shouldn`t be at increased risk of heart problems should I? might try that one out on GP next time I see him.

Thanks @chri5 for the reply, wasn't sure if you had a family history of CVD.

The choice is yours on whether to take a statin, a few years back I had a health scare which at first was thought to be angina, however after having a coronary angiogram and other tests my results came back fine, however the Cardio Nurse thought that it was best that I started on a statin because I was a long-term type 1 and had CVD in my family, after speaking with my diabetes consultant they agreed and sent a letter to my gp surgery to ask my Dr to start me on a statin.

When I went to see my gp he looked at my current and previous cholesterol levels and said there was no need to take a statin, so we collectively agreed that we'd review things again in a few years time and that was that.

 

[DeejayR]

I would be interested to know if anyone else has been in this situation and what was the outcome in your case?

Short answer, no I haven't, but with your cholesterol levels I would be very happy indeed and certainly not taking statins. There are several discussion threads about statins on here and people's views are varied.
I stopped taking statins seven months ago with my GP's knowledge, whereupon my HbA1c went down 2 points and my (unfasting) cholesterol level overall went up 2 points to 7 and may well be still rising. I have lots of HDL but also lots of non-HDL and unknown trigs. I also have a mild heart condition so any NHS expert could shoot me down in seconds.
However, I'm still here (I think) and hopefully in another 5 months I'll have a fasting cholesterol test with ALL the breakdown figures and we'll see. It's a journey of faith!

 

[chri5]

That`s very true, it IS a journey of faith and after joint pains and arrhythmia the first time around and raised BG levels second time I`m afraid I ain`t got much faith in statins!

 

[chri5]

Thanks @chri5 for the reply, wasn't sure if you had a family history of CVD.

The choice is yours on whether to take a statin, a few years back I had a health scare which at first was thought to be angina, however after having a coronary angiogram and other tests my results came back fine, however the Cardio Nurse thought that it was best that I started on a statin because I was a long-term type 1 and had CVD in my family, after speaking with my diabetes consultant they agreed and sent a letter to my gp surgery to ask my Dr to start me on a statin.

When I went to see my gp he looked at my current and previous cholesterol levels and said there was no need to take a statin, so we collectively agreed that we'd review things again in a few years time and that was that.

That`s just how it should be in my opinion.

 

[Lamont D]

Yes, I was put on statins because of family history.
But as my cholesterol is pretty good and I'm in control, my GP and I agreed, I didn't need them.
Especially, as the side effects were affecting my muscles and giving a small rise in my blood glucose levels. I need to be in ketosis and they were pulling me out!

If I was you, you don't need them, so tell your doctor that you have decided to stop taking them!

 

[chri5]

Yes, I was put on statins because of family history.
But as my cholesterol is pretty good and I'm in control, my GP and I agreed, I didn't need them.
Especially, as the side effects were affecting my muscles and giving a small rise in my blood glucose levels. I need to be in ketosis and they were pulling me out!

If I was you, you don't need them, so tell your doctor that you have decided to stop taking them!

Yep, I think that`s the answer.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I was on statins for 3 months following diagnosis despite having OK cholesterol, because "all diabetics are given statins". I then read up about them, and came off them. My fasting levels notched downwards almost immediately. May have been coincidence, but it may not. By the way, on my next blood test, 3 months after stopping statins, my lipids had improved noticeably and have continued to do so.

 

[chri5]

I was on statins for 3 months following diagnosis despite having OK cholesterol, because "all diabetics are given statins". I then read up about them, and came off them. My fasting levels notched downwards almost immediately. May have been coincidence, but it may not. By the way, on my next blood test, 3 months after stopping statins, my lipids had improved noticeably and have continued to do so.

Very glad to hear it, I hope mine do the same.

 

[Daphne917]

Hi, my last Hba1c came in at 39 so I was well pleased however when I told my GP that I had come off statins a few months ago because of side effects he wanted me to start on a different statin, this despite good cholesterol levels (LDL 2.1, HDL 2.1, Trigs 0.9 total 4.6).To keep the peace I agreed to start on 1/2 a tablet daily for 2 weeks then up to 1 a day. I test regularly and had noticed a slight rise in all my results which rose even further when I went to a full tablet dose, when I googled it , it turns out statins can raise your BG levels. Needless to say I have now discontinued the statins and my BG levels are already coming down again. It has taken a lot of hard work to bring my BG levels down to where they are now and I really can`t see the logic of undoing this work for the sake of taking a drug which I don`t think I even need! I would be interested to know if anyone else has been in this situation and what was the outcome in your case?

I was prescribed statins when first diagnosed because 'diabetics need to be on them' and my hba1c rose from 48 to 54. I came off them due to other side effects and since then my hba1c has reduced to 36 and my cholesterol is pretty good too. My DN suggests that I may like to start taking them again at every appointment but I politely refuse! Like you I'm not prepared to increase my BS and suffer other side effects when there is no apparent reason.

 

[graj0]

Mind you, if I can keep the Hba1c at 39 then technically I shouldn`t be at increased risk of heart problems should I? might try that one out on GP next time I see him.

I would have thought, as you say, that you shouldn't be at increased risk and indeed I thought the increased risk really only applies to those with poorly controlled BG.

Perhaps you could ask him why there seems to be increased risk of CVD when cholesterol levels go above 5.4 and would also seem to increase when the cholesterol levels go below 5.4. If I can find the British Heart Foundation chart that shows this I'll add it to this message.

You've probably seen the thread about statins and it's a tricky call. My mother's family have a history of CVD which should make me want to take cautions and take statins. In the end, all the differing evidence was just too much for me to fully understand so I went with the fact that I was fed up with severe muscle pain, poor sleep and brain fog, all recognised side effects.

 

[Klangley]

Just posted on my experience today guys were my GP was trying to convince me to go the statins route. I declined, but she was not happy. Despite no test indicating I had an issue with cholesterol.