Summary: We all have 2 main ways to generate energy:
Burn glucose
Burn fats
Statin drugs lower your ability to transport fats to tissue where they are used for energy (burned). Thus, you become more dependent upon glucose (sugar) as a fuel. As a side consequence, statin drugs make it harder to lose weight (put another way - make it easier to gain weight)
By coincidence, Jonathan Landsman interviewed me yesterday regarding statins and cholesterol. We went over all this "cholesterol" and statin blogs in 50 minutes. I hope to get that video and publish it here or go to www.naturalhealth365.com
Statins and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
Statin drugs contribute to diabetes. The mechanism here is straightforward. Reducing LDL reduces fat transport, including triglycerides. If cells cannot get and burn fats, then burning sugar is the only option. This leads directly to insulin resistance. Statins may also impair the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin leading to the buildup of glucose in the blood.
Many studies support the causal link between statin intake and diabetes.
"Increased risk of diabetes with statin treatment is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion: a 6-year follow-up study of the METSIM cohort."
Finding: 46 percent increase in diabetes.
"Diabetes Secondary to Treatment with Statins"
Findings: Statin therapy increases the risk of diabetes by 9%–12% in the two meta-analyses of statin trials and by 18%–99% in five population-based studies.
"Statin Use and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative."
Findings: Statin medication use in postmenopausal women is associated with an increased risk for diabetes by 71%. This may be a medication class effect.
"Duration and Types of Statin Use and Long-Term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Men and Women with Hypercholesterolemia:Findings From 3 Prospective Cohorts."
Findings: Statin medication use in postmenopausal women is associated with an increased risk for diabetes by 38% in a group of 4555 women. The positive association between statin use and T2D was more pronounced with a longer duration of use, and the association varied with different types of statins.
CONCLUSION: STATIN US INCREASES DIABETES RISK BY ABOUT 50%
References:
Cederberg H, Stančáková A, Yaluri N, Modi S, Kuusisto J, Laakso M. Increased risk of diabetes with statin treatment is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion: a 6 year follow-up study of the METSIM cohort. Diabetologia. 2015 May;58(5):1109-17. doi: 10.1007/s00125-015-3528-5. Epub 2015 Mar 10. PMID: 25754552.
Laakso, M., Kuusisto, J. Diabetes Secondary to Treatment with Statins. Curr Diab Rep 17, 10 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0837-8
Culver AL, Ockene IS, Balasubramanian R, et al. Statin Use and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(2):144–152. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.625
Wang, Dong D., et al. "Abstract P151: Duration and Types of Statin Use and Long-Term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Men and Women with Hypercholesterolemia: Findings From 3 Prospective Cohorts." Circulation 131.suppl_1 (2015): AP151-AP151.
Index & Upcoming (short) blogs on cholesterol and statins
Number 1: Cholesterol fun (true) facts - completed
Number 2: Is the actual cholesterol molecule important? c - completed
Number 3: What is an optimal TC value? Remember, no one knows their actual cholesterol molecule value. - completed
Number 4: Surprising fact about cholesterol as an antibiotic - completed
Number 5: TC simple math - dumb doctors - completed
Number 6: What is LDL really? - completed
Number 7: Statins - do they lower the cholesterol molecule? - completed
Number 8: What did we learn from the new "biologics" to lower "cholesterol" - completed
Number 9: Niacin and other "cholesterol" management treatments - completed
Number 10: What did Natasha Campbell-McBride say about cholesterol/lipids? - completed
Number 11: What is a QALY, and how does it relate to "cholesterol"? - completed
Number 12: Idiot doctor from Johns Hopkins, Roger Blumenthal - completed
Number 13: Statins cause Alzheimer's and ALS - THEHIGHWIRE - completed
Number 14: Statin drugs CAUSE diabetes - completed
Number 15: The statin merry-go-round to poor cardiovascular outcomes
Number 16: Women and statin drugs
Number 17: If not "cholesterol," then what?
Number 18: Who says statins do NOT extend life?
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Seems like everything puts you at risk for diabetes. Statins increase blood sugar, plain and simple, and disrupt your body’s normal insulin production. You now become a diabetic. No need to worry. Another drug is already listed next on the physician’s flowchart. 😮 But seriously, stop taking statins to keep your health from spiraling down the drain. However, diabetes will still haunt you if you do not start eliminating toxins, reducing oxidative stress, improving your gut, and providing your body with the proper nutrients it needs.