Type 2 diabetes and statins

Hi Tc.
I posted this link recently I may be of help to you, some people are fine on statins others have problems as you will see:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4894&hilit=statins

Regards Graham

Treecreeper said:

Thanks Graham, I remember seeing that thread last year. The disturbing part is where someone has posted that surgeries / health centres get paid according to the number of diabetics who are on statins.

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Sad but true.

In order to afford the statins they have to cut down on test strips and expensive tests such as full lipid panels.

Evidence is that not only the high BG but also the high insulin levels required to deal with the diet full of heart healthy carbs are both factors in the increase in cardiovascular problems. Statins only reduce LDL which is the least worst factor, reducing carbs and controlling insulin resistance have much more effect on the trigs and HDL, and improve the particle size of the LDL. The other important factor is inflammation which again can be improved through BG control, weight loss and an appropriate diet. Just about all factors in diabetes worsen other factors, everything you can improve will have knock on effects.

Hi Treecreeper, it is a bit of a minefield but I have to say, I would probably take your GP's advice and take advantage of the statins.

I am mindful about scaring people and I am so sorry if I do, so I will be as brief as I can... Three weeks ago my brother was diagnosed with diabetes and is now injecting twice daily. His cholesterol level is the same as yours..., he is 46 years old. He has had a 'silent' heart attack (often goes unnoticed due to the diabetes - damage to nerve endings). He is one of the extremely lucky ones and is now having a quad bypass.

From my research... I truly believe that anyone who has cholesterol levels above 5 should consider statins whether diabetic or not. However, more so for diabetics because of accelerated production of the bad cholesterol. My brother has been told that because of the diabetes, he has pipes you would expect to see in someone at least 10 - 15 years older.

Just to add, where Cholesterol is concerned, there is strong evidence to suggest that a build up of the bad stuff is often down to genes and not always due to environmental factors. If you have a family history it may not be as simple as diet. My sister-in-law has tried all sorts of diets (she was on a completely green diet for 3 months - no change) - for her it is hereditary.

Perhaps in your case, the benefits of statins far outweigh the risks?

Take care :wink:

Here is a link to a very good informative discussion about Diabetes and Statins.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diabetes/tre ... 001904.htm

May just help some people to decide one way or the other.
IMOPO I have used them for some years now and think they have done a very good job.

Ken.

'Not everyone with diabetes has the same risk: there are people with Type 2 diabetes who aren't overweight. Not all smoke or have high blood pressure. So while the studies show statins are effective across the board, we can't yet say everyone should take them.'

....which makes the issue doubtful

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which is where you have to make a judgement. This article graphs the problem. Out of every hundred people there will be a proportion that benefit from taking statins, a smaller proportion that may be adversley affected and a lot for whom there will be neither gain nor loss.


http://www.nntonline.net/ebm/newsletter/2003/06/diabetes_and_statins.asp

This is worth a read if you are aware of the side effects it does help to recognise the symptoms.


http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/statin ... ports.html