Statin Use Increases Likelihood of Developing Diabetes

People taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol may be at risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a recent meta-analysis published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. The investigators analyzed 20 studies, which together included more than 1,000 subjects, and found that individuals taking statins had a 44 percent increased risk for developing diabetes, compared with those not taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs. Similar results have been published from other shorter term studies. The risk appears to increase with longer use and higher dosages.