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Statins

Cas40

Cas40

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all, I’m T2 managed by diet, currently in the not diabetic or pre diabetic range.
Went for my annual check up today and told I should go on statins despite this, and good cholesterol readings as I am over 40. I’d prefer to avoid medication and have heard some side effect horror stories. Is it really worth it?
 
You need to do your own homework and make your own decision. Your GP is there to advise, only you can decide if you want to take them.
 
They tend to want all diabetics (whether in remission or not) on Statins because uncontrolled diabetics have a much higher incidence of heart attacks.
Does this mean that statins are a good idea for those in remission? - Make up your own mind!
Personally I decided that Statins were not worth it for me. But as with tolerance of carbs, we are all different.

On my Low Carb Higher Fat way of eating, my lipid ratios are better than the were on a Low Fat High Carb way of eating when I was taking statins. But my LDL Cholesterol is much higher than back then. I've had a triple bypass and my dad died of his 2nd heart attack at age 45 (I'm now 71yrs old).

My GP gave up trying to frighten me into taking statins after he realised that I'd read (at least the summaries) of more medical papers on the Cholesterol Hypothesis than he had.
 
I took Atorvastatin along with Metformin when first diagnosed. In only a few weeks I was wandering around in a daze and still have a few minor problems with my memory - though most were resolved fairly soon after I threw the tablets in the bin. I also had aches and pains which came and went, but I had to stop work as I lost a lot of my strength and it has taken years to regain it.
 
I was put on Rosavastatin by my cardiologist eight years ago when I was first diagnosed with AFib. I was borderline T2 then. I never had any problems with them like some others claim they have / had.

I have since stopped taking them since this time last year, and so far have no problems either with AFib or T2. I stopped taking blood pressure tablets, anti coagulants, and anti inflammatories at the same.

It's your body your choice.
 
All statins did for me was, I believe in retrospect, help me on my way to T2 as they're known to increase glucose levels amongst other things. So I eventually refused to continue taking them, my glucose levels improved slightly, and as far I'm aware I've had no issues with my cholesterol levels. My GP has accepted my choice, and I would only ever take them now if there was a very good reason for me to do so.

(And @Cas40, for what it's worth I'm diet controlled, and twice your age...)
 
I found this video help me understand how i can go about lowering cholesterol if i need to after my next check up


Hope you find it helpful :)
 
2011 Dermatologist listed me as allergic to statins.
2013 Transplant department tried to put me on statins and Aspirin (Le Gateau Amglais) - bewildered when they realised they couldn't!
May 2022 Finest test results since 1958!
 
Despite NICE saying all diabetics should be put on statins, the data supporting it is weak. Many T2 who don't manage themselves well will be overweight and with high BS causing a lot of damage separate from any high cholesterol damage.
 
And this morning I got a call telling me I need to take statins as my arteries will be getting clogged up with cholesterol.
There was no indication of the problems I had after a few weeks of Atorvastatin.
There is no wonder that a medication is classed as safe and effective if no record of problems is ever made.
 
Good to question to ask is Doctor, will I live any longer as a result of taking a statin?
If you want to read then I highly recommend Malcolm Kendrick's The Clot Thickens or just watch him on a YouTube video talking about it to get the point.
Statins do reduce LDL c of course (aka the bad cholesterol) but the question is does that matter and will they do you any harm in the process?
Personally as a 51 year old diabetic female my best chance isn't in reducing such a vital part of our bodies but in keeping myself in a good blood glucose range to prevent the damage to my arteries in the first place!
You certainly have time to think about this issue a little more before just accepting a prescription!
 
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