Q. I have taken a number of statins to help control cholesterol and am currently on simvastatin. Over the years my blood sugar levels started to climb despite my efforts to eat a healthy diet and exercise.
My doctor recently diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes and prescribed metformin. It is giving me awful stomach pain, gas and diarrhea.
Now I am beginning to wonder whether the statins have caused my diabetes. My doctor says no, but I have read that they can. Maybe if I could lower my cholesterol without a statin, I wouldn’t need metformin to get my blood sugar under control. Do you have any recommendations?
A. There is growing recognition that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs can raise blood sugar, especially at higher doses (Journal of the American Medical Association, June 22/29, 2011; The Lancet, Feb. 27, 2010). Some people may be more susceptible to this complication.
It may be possible to control your cholesterol with different drugs or with changes in your diet. Foods that can be helpful include pomegranates, walnuts, fish and olive oil. Medications such as niacin or psyllium may help. Avoiding high-carb foods often lowers triglycerides, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Our book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy, provides specific details on foods, natural supplements and medications to control blood fats and glucose.
7/23/18 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/rosuvastatin-linked-to-high-blood-sugar/
