According to a study conducted over a 10 year period and published in the May 2015 Journal of General Internal Medicine, statin users have double the risk of developing diabetes than individuals who didn’t take statins, a common medication prescribed to reduce bad cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart problems. In addition, they an astounding 250 percent more likely to develop diabetes related complications, particularly eye, kidney, and nerve damage [1].

The study was conducted to “examine the association between statin use and new-onset diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity in a cohort of healthy adults.” After comparing statin users and nonusers over the course of a decade, researchers determined that statin-users were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, diabetic complications, and obesity than similar nonuser in a group of healthy adults.

Of further concern, the research also indicates that statins have a number of potentially debilitating side effects, including impaired memory, fatigue, muscle aches and pain, depression, and stroke. According to Professor Ishak Mansi, who led the study and serves as a heart specialist at the University of Texas, “Our findings are alarming.” He went on to explain that this was the first time a correlation had been found between statin use and diabetes.

In regards to people diagnosed with heart disease, he said, “I am sceptical [sic] about the prescribing guidelines for people at lower risk… I am concerned about the long term effects on the huge population of healthy people on these drugs who continue for many years.”

According to Mansi, the study doesn’t definitively indicate that diabetes cause diabetes, nor do the results mean that someone taking statins should stop taking the medication [2]. In fact, Mansi refers to statins as a “cornerstone in treatment of cardiovascular diseases.” However, he does suggest that anyone taking statins should be aware of the risk and use this as motivation to give up smoking or losing weight, both of which have been shown to stress the heart.

Additional Health Risks Found

Unfortunately for statin users, this isn’t the first time studies have found clear evidence that statins are dangerous. According to an article published in the July 2015 issue of the American Journal of Physiology – Cell Physiology, stains “deactivate” the stem cells in the body that are response for cellular repairs and side effects may include cataracts, loss of memory, muscle aches and pain, liver dysfunction, and fatigue [3].

Professor Reza Izadpanah, a stem cell biologist at Tulane University in New Orleans and lead author of the above study also reported “Our study shows statins may speed up the aging process.”

Yet Statins Continue to be Prescribed

Despite the fact that statins have been found to increase a user’s risk of developing a variety of dangerous health conditions, they are prescribed to approximately 100 million individuals all over the world every year. Why? For pharmaceutical companies, statins can generate tens of billions of dollars in a single year [3].

In today’s world, our health is going from bad to worse, yet doctors continue to write prescriptions without regard to potential negative effects. If we question the possibility of side effects, we’re often told to “give it time” or prescribed another type of medication in the same family and encouraged to “hang in there and see how this one works.”

It goes without saying that, as people, we deserve better than this. If you are taking statins and develop diabetes, natural blood sugar supplements can help your condition stay under control.

[1] http://www.newstarget.com/2016-02-04-statins-double-the-risk-of-developing-diabetes-and-diabetic-complications-according-to-ten-year-long-study.html c

[2] http://www.research.va.gov/currents/spring2015/spring2015-19.cfm

[3] http://www.naturalnews.com/051363_statin_drugs_accelerated_aging_side_effects.html#