Do Statins Raise Diabetes Risk?
Share
Statins are widely used to lower cholesterol and protect the heart, but some people worry they might increase the risk of diabetes. A large new analysis helps clear up the facts and shows how statins affect blood sugar levels.
Let’s break it down in easy-to-understand terms.
What Are Statins?
Statins are medications that reduce the amount of bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood. By doing this, they help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Doctors often prescribe them to people who are at higher risk of heart disease.
Statins are effective, well-tested, and generally safe. But for years, there’s been concern that they may raise blood sugar levels and possibly cause diabetes in some people.
What Did the Research Find?
Researchers looked at data from over 150,000 people who took part in long-term clinical trials. The results showed that:
- People taking low or moderate doses of statins had a 10% higher chance of being diagnosed with diabetes.
- Those taking high doses had a 36% higher risk.
- The increase in blood sugar was small—on average, just a 0.04 mmol/L rise in glucose and a 0.06–0.08% rise in HbA1c (a long-term blood sugar marker).
These changes are small and don’t mean statins will definitely cause diabetes for most people.
Who’s Most at Risk?
The people most affected were those who already had higher-than-normal blood sugar before starting statins—close to the diabetes range but not quite there yet. In fact, about 62% of new diabetes cases occurred in this group.
So, if your blood sugar is already borderline, taking a statin might slightly increase your chances of crossing the diabetes threshold.
What About People With Diabetes?
If you already have diabetes, the study showed statins can cause a small worsening in blood sugar control. But again, the change is modest—just a small bump in glucose levels and medication needs. For most people, this doesn’t outweigh the heart protection statins provide.
Should You Be Worried?
In most cases, no. The heart benefits of statins are much greater than the small increase in diabetes risk. Statins help prevent serious heart problems like heart attacks and strokes, especially if you’re at high risk.
Doctors already factor this risk into their decision to prescribe statins. They may monitor your blood sugar more closely if you're at risk of diabetes, but they usually still recommend statins when needed.
How Can You Reduce the Risk?
If you're taking statins or considering them, here are a few tips:
- Get your blood sugar checked regularly, especially if it’s already borderline.
- Follow a healthy diet and be active to keep your blood sugar in control.
- Talk to your doctor about the best dose for you—lower doses may be safer for some people.
Final Thoughts
Yes, statins may slightly increase your risk of developing diabetes, especially at higher doses. But the effect is small, and the protection against heart disease is big. For most people, statins remain a smart, life-saving treatment.
As always, talk to your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits for your personal health.