Looking for some info on folks with t2 docter wants me to start taking statin for chlolestrol
What im reading is its small percentage. That it helps. My number around 195 total.
But cause in t2 he thinks best.
Personally I would not take statins but I'm not qualified to give medical advice.
You can do the research though. Note that the American Health admin (I forget the name but they give all the health advice in America) have downgraded cholesterol as to be no longer of concern.
Known side effects of statins include raising blood sugar levels (so is that really a drug to give diabetics?). Disruption of the production of CoQ10 enzyme (this is what can cause muscle pain as it is a vital enzyme that allows the 'energy' in food to be taken up by cells in the body.) Again as a diabetic for whom exercise is important for health I woulnt take a drug that could interfere with my ability to exercise. There are other side effects but those are the most important to me.
Cholesterol is vital to the body (brain is 25%cholesterol for example) if the body doesn't get what it needs from food it will make its own. Dietary cholesterol is only about a quarter of the bodies total.
Beware of being quoted relative risks. My doctor told me taking a statin would almost halve my risk but the actual statistic is that out of 100 people with a 10% risk (which is simply assumed if you are diabetic regardless of lifestyle or diet) then without statins 10may suffer a non-fatal heart attack or stroke. If they all take statins (for at least a year though it may be for 5 years I'd have to check) then 6 will suffer a non-fatal heart attack or stroke. So the difference in absolute risk is 4% which does not sound so impressive and meanwhile all 100 are at risk of the side effects and a possible reduction in their quality of life.
I believe but again qualify this with a need to check my sources that the number of fatal heart attacks isn't affected. so they don't save you from dying.
I think there are plenty of studies showing you can improve your chances far more by taking more exercise and modifyng your diet and that has no risk of side effects.
There are no studies showing statins to effective for women. All trials were done on men. Also bear in mind there are usually pre-trials to exclude anyone who immediatelysufers adverse effects.
Search also for Statin Nation films - you can view an excerpt online, and consider who benefits most from you taking a statin - you or the drug company that produces it and is getting paid?
My belief is that doctors prescribe them because they are told to by the health authorities (and in UK at least) the practice gets money for following the guidelines. Maybe they don't have time to do their own research but I also think they tend to beleive that people would rather be given a drug than take responsibility for their own health through diet and exercise.
If yore in UK be aware that the NHS diet advice The Eatwell Plate is out of date and deeply flawed particularly where diabetics are concerned.
Apologies for not supplying links above I'm not at home so don't have them to hand.
