Statins on NHS?

[TheRightStuff]

Hi. So here is the roll call for those on the NHS in the UK and whether you have been offered statins or not.

Bear in mind I only just got my call this late afternoon (Weds 6th March).

But apparently "all diabetics are being offered statins" "because it's good for them" . . . or something.

This came straight from the health centre (not a doctor I may add).

So is this BS? Or have you also been (or are about to be, haha) offered statins because they are good for you?

Is this just more pharma selling or what?

 

[Rokaab]

Yeah, it seems to be that once you're over 40 (ish) as a diabetic you'll be offered statins.

Luckily my diabetic nurse at my docs (she is awesome and knows a lot of stuff) had already decided I didn't need them unless I really wanted them when she first mentioned them to me (she had to apparently) - this year we came up with about 3 or 4 good reasons why I wasnt going to have them in case any other doc looked and decided I should have them

 

[Deleted member 527103]

Yes, this is the NICE guideline.
I have been told two reasons by different endos.
- the first told me it is offered to everyone with diabetes over the age of 40 because we are at greater risk of CVD. However, this is based on research with people who are overweight and do no exercise. At the time, there had been no study showing value of statins for people of healthy weight who exercise regularly.
- more recently, I was told that people with diabetes have greater variation in their BG which puts stress on their heart. This is regardless of weight or exercise.

 

[Jasmin2000]

Good statin discussion here https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/statins-again.202261/#post-2678256

I was prescribed statins by my GP because of the NICE guidelines, but he was honest enough to tell me that clinical studies showed that only some diabetics taking statins will benefit, but there is no way of finding out which in advance, so we all get them offered to us. Fair enough.

 

[AndBreathe]

Guidelines for statin prescription, for those with diabetes has recently changed again, bringing more into the “should be offered” category.

 

[urbanracer]

I recently consented to accept a prescription for statins after (what felt like) almost incessant pressure from both the endo' and the GP's diabetes nurse.

I haven't started them yet, thinking I would at least try to reduce the amount of junk food I eat first.

My previous Endo' always used to tell me that me that my cholesterol ratio was acceptable but now, apparently, there is a new way of determining risk from cholesterol.

 

[sninge]

I had a message from my surgery this week telling me statins are now recommended to people who have had diabetes for 10yrs or more. Ive been diagnosed 40 yrs and was first offered them aged 40 and have politely declined a couple of times, last time was a year ago when I had a phone appointment with a gp because my cholesterol was slightly out of range, I told her I wanted to try diet first and she said my overall risk didn't mean I should be on statins. I have a phone call scheduled with the pharmacist at my surgery to discuss, or at least for her to explain my real risk.... I hope!

 

[Jaylee]

I was offered statins about 10 or 12 years ago? Been told I would be dead soon if I didn’t… (literally.) I have no markers to suggest a problem. Just seems like pressure & horror stories. Not facts from HCPs.

The last time my endo approached it like I was still using “Thomas the tank engine” bed sheets & needed a night light.. (I kid you not..)

 

[eventhorizon]

I'm a type 1 of a certain age (45). I find HCP respectful of my decision not to take statins. My endo went thru the qrisk with me showing that my chances of a heart attack went from 5 in a 100 to 4 in a 100 in the next 10 years if I took a statin. I said I understood and he never mentioned it again.
The GP and DNS raise the statin question once or twice a year. I politely decline and we move on.
I'm surprised that people feel pressured into taking something they don't want.