Statins: Debate over Diabetes Risk Continues
It is well documented that statin drugs, those used to lower cholesterol, come with a long list of side effects, one of which is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Even though one recent study has concluded that the risks outweigh the benefits, the debate over whether or not statins are indeed beneficial in preventing heart disease is still under contention.
Cautionary statement issued by FDA in 2011
The FDA put a cautionary statement about statin drugs on its website in early 2011, warning those that take statins that they may be at and increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as muscle injury, cognitive impairment and liver damage. Says deputy director of the FDA’s metabolisim and endocrinology products division, Dr. Amy G. Egan, “Their benefit is indisputable, but they need to be taken with care and knowledge of their side effects.”
Since then, drug manufacturers have been scrambling to find out just how much increased risk came with using their product. Dr. Paul Ridker, lead researcher and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, said:
"Unfortunately, little if any data was available at that time to address not only the risks, but also the benefits of treatment. This is crucial since it is the benefit-to-risk ratio that physicians and their patients need to understand. We believe that most physicians and patients would regard heart attack, stroke and death to be more severe outcomes than the onset of diabetes."
Ridker’s previous research of almost 18 thousand patients examined over a 5 period found that those with only one risk factor for diabetes were at a 28 percent greater risk of developing the disease when taking the statin. At the same time, the drug lowered their risk of developing heart disease by 39 percent.
Cat In the Fishbowl
AstraZeneca funded the most recent research and found that the benefits of statins outweighed its risks. Unfortunately, AstraZeneca is the maker of Crestor®, a statin drug, and many are questioning the validity of the research because of the connection. While the company has addressed in several studies that their product lowers “bad” cholesterol, none of their studies have looked at what damage the drug may be doing to muscle function, and the heart muscle function in particular.
A 2009 study done by Michigan State University found, “there was significantly better function noted with SI (strain imaging) in the control group vs the statin group in the 4-chamber, 2-chamber, long axis, and average global views,” with regard to heart muscle function. This means that the control group had better heart muscle function than the statin group. Other research published by the JAMA was equally condemning. Researchers found that high-dose statin use reflected an increase in type 2 diabetes risk. The study found that those receiving the highest dose developed greater insulin resistance, higher hemoglobin A1C, and higher insulin levels.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, one of the leading skeptics of statins says, “Once again, we find that industry-funded claims of health benefits for highly profit-producing drugs need to be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
Sources
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20120809/statin-diabete...
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/08/09/increase...
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=381733
http://www.anh-usa.org/media-scramble-to-protect-statin-reputation/
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/08/10/benefits-statins-outweigh-diabe...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_128111.html http://forecast.diabetes.org/brain-aug2012?loc=rightrail1_forecast-diabe...
http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/29/fda-warns-statin-users-of-memory-l...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/22/new-study-...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/6941350219 http://wrightnewsletter.com/2011/05/18/ldl-cholesterol-levels/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027659
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...