Classified Pre-diabetic BUT is it my Meds that's the Problem?

[bogwort47]

Hi Everyone

It looks very much as though the majority issue I have is taking Atorvastatin, not my diet. I stopped taking this statin about a month ago. Since then my Blood Glucose levels have dropped by over 10% notionally bringing me back to not being pre-diabetic. The full story is on the Diabetes Discussion Forum/Board. Thread Title: "Drugs raising BG" I would be very interested in hearing from anyone else that has been classified as Pre-diabetic (just over the limit) and is also on this statin or another. The web suggests that statins only marginally raise BG levels, say about 5 %. It seems now that this figure could be as high as 15% to 20%. I am now off Atorvastatin with my Heart Consultant's blessing in the knowledge that I need never go back on statins as there are alternative meds available now that work differently and do not inhibit the body's insulin from working. I was HbA1c = 42 from 2020 to 08/2024 when I was designated Pre-diabetic. Since, I have been working on my diet with little effect. On 25 04 2025 my HbA1c was 41 and I stopped Atorvastatin. My Blood Glucose (prick) has since dropped from an average of 6.3 to an average of 5.5. Please, I would love to hear from anyone else who could be in a similar position. Notionally, this could be many of those on the first thread of this Board/Forum who mostly appear to be just marginally over the HbA1c limit. Statins also interact with anxiety meds such as Paroxetine and can cause insulin to be inhibited in some people. Depending on the initial feed back I will consider starting a proper survey. At present heart medications and anxiety type meds may affect people to different extents. If you are on different meds from me but of a similar type you may still be being affected. However, although it probably does not need saying, but please do not make any changes to your prescribed meds without checking with your GP/consultant first.

 

[EllieM]

Your other thread is here - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/drugs-raising-bg.209394/

Just a heads up that any "survey" would count as research and need approval from Admin before being posted.

It's fairly well known that some statins cause raised bgs in some people, but the official line is that the cardiovascular benefits outweigh the increased diabetes risks

Statin use in prediabetic patients: rationale and results to date - PMC

Prediabetes increases the risk for new-onset diabetes mellitus in patients receiving statins and this risk is dose- and time- dependent. Explanations for the conversion of a predisposed individual to diabetes are ambiguous including reductions in ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[bogwort47]

Hi EllieM

Thank you for the heads up - appreciated.

I also note the observation concerning the benefits outweighing the negatives or whatever.

However, the paper you reference was published in 2015, some 10 years ago. At that time, there were no alternatives to statins and certainly in 2020 when I had my 3 x CABG, Atorvastatin was the 'leader' and a 'no brainer' for me at the time. Now, today, there are new, alternative drugs available which work differently without the side effects and my Cardiac Consultant has made it clear to me that he would not put me back on statins but another named drug, Inclisiran, if my lipids indicate the need in 5 months time. Each case is peculiar to the patient.

Thank you again for the trouble you have gone to help me with this.