Type 1 and Statins.

[Mike d]

Personal experience and reading of many others woes. I will not repeat what has been said before many times

@Bluetit1802 ... Pass, it's the site's responsibility to initiate this or dismiss it

 

[Craig1978]

Personal experience and reading of many others woes. I will not repeat what has been said before many times

@Bluetit1802 ... Pass, it's the site's responsibility to initiate this or dismiss it

Fair enough, I would be grateful if you could share your experiences, but understand if you do not want to.

 

[JMK1954]

I know of another type 1 who uses my local chemists. The pharmacist, who insisted on a medicine review with me, was taken aback by what I told her about my experience. (I complain about failure to recognise known side-effects of statins whenever I get the chance !) She said she had recently been asked for advice by a type 1 in his 40s. He had only taken a statin for three weeks but had started to experience hallucinations. His GP wanted to refer him to Mental Health services, a second GP at the same practice agreed. He came to the pharmacy and asked if this could be connected to his taking statins. She told him that the answer was 'Yes' and advised him to go back to the GP. She admitted that after talking to me, she would have conveyed her message in stronger and more urgent terms.

Of course, statins are regarded as safe, unlike opioids for example, but it doesn't mean they are. There are many drugs to which some of the population react badly. Penicillin is safe, but some are allergic to it.

 

[Craig1978]

I know of another type 1 who uses my local chemists. The pharmacist, who insisted on a medicine review with me, was taken aback by what I told her about my experience. (I complain about failure to recognise known side-effects of statins whenever I get the chance !) She said she had recently been asked for advice by a type 1 in his 40s. He had only taken a statin for three weeks but had started to experience hallucinations. His GP wanted to refer him to Mental Health services, a second GP at the same practice agreed. He came to the pharmacy and asked if this could be connected to his taking statins. She told him that the answer was 'Yes' and advised him to go back to the GP. She admitted that after talking to me, she would have conveyed her message in stronger and more urgent terms.

Of course, statins are regarded as safe, unlike opioids for example, but it doesn't mean they are. There are many drugs to which some of the population react badly. Penicillin is safe, but some are allergic to it.

This sort of info/advice is what I am looking for. I am personally, going to take a balanced approached to this. I know what I take at the moment, and how I have 'felt' for years, so if I am going to start taking Statins and experience any changes anything like what you have said here, then I will report straight back to my GP. I am prepared for a 3 months minimum 'trial' and see what happens!

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hi @Craig1978 one week ago, in the early evening my GP rang me and asked me if I considered taking statins because at my yearly diabetes review with DSN, my number had gone up. I explained I wasn't keen and GP said there is no pressure as it's my decision, but if I want to go on statins later on I can contact him. my reasoning........so much negativity regarding statins it has put me off somewhat, but I may think about it more at a later date ?.
A couple of links you may like to read :-
www.practicaldiabetes.com/article/statins-people-type-1-diabetes-treatment-start/

/www.nhs.uk/news/diabetes/statin-therapy-for-diabetics/

 

[bulkbiker]

Not quite sure what you mean or are getting at by this? When you say 'mess with it at your own risk', what do you mean exactly?

Artificially lowering something in your body that is completely essential for life on the advice of a doctor.
Do you trust that they really have understood the full effects of statins?

Have you seen this guy? He neatly explains what statins do to you and your body.

 

[Craig1978]

Artificially lowering something in your body that is completely essential for life on the advice of a doctor.
Do you trust that they really have understood the full effects of statins?

Have you seen this guy? He neatly explains what statins do to you and your body.

I haven't watched that video yet due to the device that I am replying on, but I take it he is an expert in the field? What understanding of Statins do you have over that of a Doctor? (not trying to be argumentative, just asking the question)

The problem in this case as, I see it, is that I do take the advice of professionals. If I am told that my cholesterol is ok for a T1 diabetic, but high compared to someone who is 'normal' why wouldn't I take something that can help? I think that, on balance, I will take the 3 months 'trial', and if my cholesterol comes down to non T1 diabetic levels, with no obvious side effects, then I will be happy.

 

[bulkbiker]

I haven't watched that video yet due to the device that I am replying on, but I take it he is an expert in the field? What understanding of Statins do you have over that of a Doctor? (not trying to be argumentative, just asking the question)

The problem in this case as, I see it, is that I do take the advice of professionals. If I am told that my cholesterol is ok for a T1 diabetic, but high compared to someone who is 'normal' why wouldn't I take something that can help? I think that, on balance, I will take the 3 months 'trial', and if my cholesterol comes down to non T1 diabetic levels, with no obvious side effects, then I will be happy.

Well I compiled this thread with much help from others about statins and cholesterol.
I think that the info contained within it is more than most HCP's are aware of.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

As with everything its down to you... as a T2 I have found that my docs are worse than useless with that so I ignore almost everything they say. I now do my own research and act accordingly.

 

[Craig1978]

Well I compiled this thread with much help from others about statins and cholesterol.
I think that the info contained within it is more than most HCP's are aware of.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/cholesterol-and-statins.156985/

As with everything its down to you... as a T2 I have found that my docs are worse than useless with that so I ignore almost everything they say. I now do my own research and act accordingly.

Thanks for this, I'll have a good read of all of it.

Like I said earlier, the point of this thread was to gain advice and experiences of others. I'll take it all on board, as maybe other will too, and make a decision accordingly!

 

[Mike d]

@Craig1978 You're one trusting soul. I took them for 3 months before I twigged to what they were doing to me and their disastrous effects lasted for 3 years !!!!!

 

[bulkbiker]

Thanks for this, I'll have a good read of all of it.

Like I said earlier, the point of this thread was to gain advice and experiences of others. I'll take it all on board, as maybe other will too, and make a decision accordingly!

Its about a days worth of info...

 

[Craig1978]

Its about a days worth of info...

That's cool, I don't work weekends! You do come across pretty negative and maybe have some kind of agenda towards them, but I am old enough and ugly enough to take advice, digest it and make a reasoned decision!

 

[bulkbiker]

That's cool, I don't work weekends! You do come across pretty negative and maybe have some kind of agenda towards them, but I am old enough and ugly enough to take advice, digest it and make a reasoned decision!

Well there's no way I would ever take them.. so you're right I am pretty negative.

 

[Craig1978]

Well there's no way I would ever take them.. so you're right I am pretty negative.

That's cool, and I don't mean to offend. On balance so far, I will follow proffessional advice and monitor accordingly. Short term I feel the benefits may well outweigh the negatives.

 

[bulkbiker]

That's cool, and I don't mean to offend. On balance so far, I will follow proffessional advice and monitor accordingly. Short term I feel the benefits may well outweigh the negatives.

Not offended in the slightest.. as I said I've looked at a fair bit of evidence and made my decision.. I just want to let others have the opportunity to see the same stuff so they can make theirs rather than just "follow doctors orders".
I'm not sure I can see what the short term benefits would be for you though...?

 

[Craig1978]

.
I'm not sure I can see what the short term benefits would be for you though...?

On advice received, if I can get my Cholesterol down to 'normal' levels and not T1 diabetic levels, without any other issues then I see that as a postive result. I genuinely get that a one size fits all approach doesn't work, but, for me, I at least have to give it a chance and closely monitor any negatives that may happen.

 

[viv k]

My specialist recommends that all her type 1 patients over 50 take a statin. My cholesterol has always been pretty good, but on her advice I started taking 10mg simvastatin about 2 years ago. I haven't noticed any side effects and my cholesterol results are very good ,even though I eat lots of cheese

 

[Robinredbreast]

My specialist recommends that all her type 1 patients over 50 take a statin. My cholesterol has always been pretty good, but on her advice I started taking 10mg simvastatin about 2 years ago. I haven't noticed any side effects and my cholesterol results are very good ,even though I eat lots of cheese

Thank you for posting, it's always good to know how other people get on with it, so pleased it is working for you

 

[kitedoc]

Muscle issues was certainly something I have been advised about. The issue is that that wouldn't be good for my type of work, so have to balance long term health against short term wealth!!

With the greatest of respect, I am not going to search on Google, if I did, I would already be dead! (joke) The point of asking on a resources like this is to gain advice from others in a similar situation and the pros and cons from actual people's experiences. I am not asking for people to tell me what do do, as I can do that for myself!

but, @Craig1978,
if you were to google say, Simvastatin (Zocor) and view the official MSD (drug company) patient info it does NOT mention that their product can increase BSLs .
You only find that by looking up side-effects to simvastatin on other sites like drugs.com or rxlist.com.
Also if you were to subscribe to zoeharcombe.com there is plenty of independent of Big Pharma writing from an expert about cholesterol and statins.
In one conference report she mentions that statins have a 25% side effect profile.
That can give you a big picture view and well as her graphs on studies of cholesterol levels in 198 countries of the world vs cardio-vascular death and all-cause death.
For males and females the higher the total cholesterol level the lower the death rate from cardiovascular disease and of all causes of death. These reports back what @bulkbiker wrote.

 

[kitedoc]

This sort of info/advice is what I am looking for. I am personally, going to take a balanced approached to this. I know what I take at the moment, and how I have 'felt' for years, so if I am going to start taking Statins and experience any changes anything like what you have said here, then I will report straight back to my GP. I am prepared for a 3 months minimum 'trial' and see what happens!

The above story from the pharmacist shows you that doctors do not always know or care to know what side-effects their patients may suffer from. The 'push' for statins has been fed to doctors by those who believe in statins (but do not necessarily take them themselves) - such a drug reps and medical specialists. Some of these specialists may well have links to the companies who make statins, so how independent and objective is their advice?