Statins and type ll diabetes

New to this forum. I read an article or two about the relationship between type ll diabetes and statins. I had been on Atorvastatin for cholesterol for several years. My A1c went from 5.1 up to 7.1 very quickly even with diet and exercise. My doc prescribed Metformin and forgot to tell me. I happened to notice it on my online chart one day. I decided to take matters into my own hands and I started looking online. I found articles that stated statins may cause a rise in blood sugar and may be what causes type ll in some cases. I stopped taking the statin, switched to a natural cholesterol lowering tab and within 1 year my A1c went down from 7.1 to 6.0. My cholesterol has gone up but still below acceptable limits. I also found a new doctor who wants to be a partner in my health and not just tell me what to do. Any thoughts?

I did not know there was a relationship between statins and blood sugar. Hmm. I had read about some side effects (especially on women) of statins and was not happy that my doctor wanted me on them but my new doctor told me that the most recent studies on women were that taking them just three times a week was very effective, so that's what I'm doing and it's working.

Also, doctors want diabetics' cholesterol results to be lower than the norm for non-diabetics because diabetics are more prone to heart disease (as well as kidney and eye problems among others.

My advice is to talk to your doctor. Maybe a lower statin dose can also benefit men.

Also I am not advocating others do this. You must talk with your doctor and decide what is best for yourself. I do not nor have I taken the Metformin as yet. I am not against taking it and will if my levels ever go back up but for now I am trying to be more conscious of what goes in my body.

It's not a good idea to stop statins without discussing it with your doctor. Suddenly stopping these drugs can contribute to heart attacks and strokes.

Try Omega 3 to lower your triglycerides. I take two a day because of the same thing that happened to Lainie. It raised my hdl and lowered my triglycerides. But you have to be careful to get the kind that is purified.

Cholesterol is in every cell of the body. Without cholesterol you die. Cholesterol is necessary for the hormones your body makes to stay healthy. If you feel you have a problem with cholesterol it is best to look at diet. The cholesterol is there for a reason. If you are eating foods which cause inflammation that is the reason you have high cholesterol. The cholesterol seals up the blood vessels you have damaged. If you are taking a statin make sure you are taking CoQ10.

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzyme-q10

I take Nordic Ultimate Omega 3 from Whole Foods - 2 a day=1200mg. It is expensive so I wait until they have a sale and stock up. I have some carotid blockage but can't take blood thinners. A neurologist told me to use this to thin my blood (it does) and my gp told me it would also lower my triglycerides (it did by the numbers on my blood workup). My HDL also went up as an added benefit. If you are taking a blood thinner, aspirin or vitamin E, you need to talk it over with you doctor......because it does thin your blood, lower triglycerides and raise HDL! I am stating this after years of taking it and seeing my annual numbers change. It has also stabilized my carotid plaque for four or five years as evidenced by cat scans. And no I cannot take statins or aspirins - which is another reason I tried Omega 3's.

I don't think we need to be so definite about what some people think is a "scam" until we understand why they go seeking alternatives. All our bodies are different and react to medicines and supplements differently. I would never recommend something like Omega 3 if I had not seen definitive proof in my tests. But I also realize that taking statins and aspirin may be a better alternative (and quicker) for those of you who can. I wish I could just take a pill for my many ailments. Unfortunately for my health, I am too sensitive/allergic to a huge list of meds that seem to give a lot of people good results.

In answer to you Lainie....I do not know about Krill oil. I take the name brand and the amount my neurologist recommended and it has worked for me. I did note in some research that "for some people" Omega 3's raise the blood glucose slightly but benefits in other ways.

Well said. We are all different and each of us must find out what works for us. Just as with diet. One diet doesn't work for everyone but there are basic principals we should consider. The reason we have to eat is to get the vitamins and minerals the body needs. It is best to get the vitamins and minerals from real food rather than supplements. Both Krill oil and Fish oil deliver the Omega 3 fat which many do not get enough of. Krill oil is superior because it does not need to be converted by the body. We get omega 3 oil from the foods we eat. Most people do not get enough omega 3 oil because manufactures use omega 6 oils in process foods. I try to eat wild caught Alaskan salmon once a week which is high in the omega 3.

https://www.bulletproofexec.com/video-omega-3s-is-krill-oil-better-than-fish-oil/

I've seen that also about the link between taking statins with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The FDA issued a warning on this side effect of statins. A warning was also issued on the potential for developing memory loss when taking statins. One article I've seen on this ~

"Statin Medications Can Cause Diabetes, Memory Loss"

www.drsinatra.com/statin-medications-can-cause-diabetes-memory-loss/

Lynnwood, I was put on a statin many years ago & went off of it because of the increased joint pain. Same thing happened with my brother & his dr kept trying different ones until he found one that agreed with him. I forgot to mention my brother was type II & on Metformin. This is pretty common with some statins.

Husband is type II on insulin & meds for this. He is also on a statin & has not had it interfere with his sugar level. I think because we all metabolize meds differently this is why some can tolerate them without side effects of any kind.

Take care.

My A1C is hanging around 5.7 and I've been on Zocor and CoQ10 for quite a few years.

Sherrine