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Statins and Cholesterol

P

palas

Member
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13
I have a question.

Recently diagnosed. Blood pressure good, cholesterol 4.5.

At my first meeting with the diabetes nurse at the doctor's practice she did say that they ROUTINELY put people on cholesterol lowering drugs.

I'm reluctant to do this and wanted to say to her could we wait until my first quarterly test is done and then see what my cholesterol has come down to - if it has come down.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on "to statin - or not to statin".

I walk about 1 1/2 hours every day with my dogs and am worried that my current ache-free limbs might not be quite as healthy once I start on statins???? :?:

Carolynn
 
Hi Carolynn

My GP prescribed me a simvastatin as a matter of course. My cholesterol has never been high.

I managed to tolerate the statin for a few years but later on developed really bad muscle pain and cramps in my legs. I stopped taking them. He tried me on lipitor but same problems, so I don't take them anymore.
 
I was put on 40 mgs of Simvastatin after my stroke in June 2011 and I haven't had any problems. I do at least an hour of exercise every day and have no aches (apart from a long-standing occasional creaky knee).
 
Carolynn,

Don't feel pressured to start on a statin and wait until your next review if that suits you better, in the mean-time read about them as much as possible or contact the British Heart Foundation who will happily advise you.

Here are the recommended guidelines for people with diabetes:

HDL: 1mmol/l or above for men; 1.2mmol/l or above for women

LDL: below 2mmol/l

Triglycerides: equal to or below 1.7mmol/l

Total cholesterol: below 4mmol/l
 
Hi Carolynn,

A few yaers ago I was called in to my surgery and told that all diabetics were now being advised to take asprin and statins. Went home with my prescription. Started reading about side effects so I decided not to take them. When my next hosp appt came up I explained to the Dr why I decided not to take them, and after realising that I was not actually in a particular risk catagory and that my Cholesterol was Ok he agreed with me.

I have kept my cholesterol Ok since. He did say that in time they may review it but they havent suggested it yet.

In my case the risks definately outweighed the benefits!

Hope this helps!

Lucy.
 
I've been on simvastatin 20mgs or years, and never had problems.
Having said that, my cholesterol level was always about 5.5 on that dose. Since diagnosis, and having a reduced carb diet to control my BGs, my cholesterol went down to 3.8! So with your (presumably) adjusted diet, you may not need them.
 
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