Should I take statins if I have diabetes?
Think statins are just for people with high cholesterol? Think again.
Imagine a medication that could cut your risk of heart attack or stroke by up to 50% — and help manage your diabetes. Statins, introduced in the 1980s, do just that by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, which reduces plaque buildup in arteries and improves blood flow.
But statins aren’t just for those diagnosed with heart disease. In fact, statins are particularly important for people living with diabetes.
When you have diabetes, your body produces less of the "good" cholesterol (HDL) and raises levels LDL cholesterol. This puts people with diabetes at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke. According to guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, statins can help lower the risk of cardiac events for people living with diabetes who have an LDL of 70 mg or higher.
Statins are remarkably safe drugs. However, many people who could benefit from statins aren’t taking them. The American Heart Association found that more than 10% of patients who could benefit from statins weren’t taking them because they were worried about side effects. However, the actual side effects of taking statins are fairly minor and usually simple to address. For example, side effects like muscle pain are often resolved by adjusting the medication.
Medications your way
If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about whether statins may be right for you. The American Diabetes Association recommends statins for people with diabetes who are between ages 40 and 75, even if they don’t have cardiovascular disease.
Don’t let fear of side effects stop you from getting life-saving treatment. Statins may be one of the most important decisions for your heart health.
