Women and Increased Diabetic Risk from Statins

The LA times reported on a study just released from the Archives of Internal Medicine this week red-flagging increased risks related to statin (cholesterol lowering) therapies. The report indicates that post-menopausal women, taking statin therapy purely as "preventative" protection against development of heart disease in fact did not develop frank heart disease during the study period but developed a predecessor to heart disease, Type II diabetes!

Type II diabetes, known as "non insulin" or adult onset, is a lifelong chronic disease marked by increased levels of blood glucose. It is the most common form of diabetes, often a flagship risk factor associated with obesity. It is also a common predecessor to development of heart disease as it is more difficult to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

According to the study, over 153,000 post-menopausal women (aged 50-79) were studied and followed between 1993 and 2005. Statin usage was evaluated at baseline and year three. All women were encouraged to continue on therapy throughout the length of the study.

At the end of the study period, it was indicated that nearly 11,000. women had developed Type II diabetes. Increased incidences among women of Asian decent and those with normal BMI. The study indicated that further evaluation drilling down the statin drugs that were related with increased incidences would be a good next step.

As statins have become more prevalent, and often touted as the miracle drug of the century, it's reminders from important studies such as this that "one drug does not fit all".

"Wish not so much to live long as much as to live well"

Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanac, 1738

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