Statin use is associated with a rise of fasting blood glucose levels in patients with and without diabetes

This study was published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine 2009 Mar;57(3):495-9

 

Study title and authors:

Effect of statins on fasting plasma glucose in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Sukhija R, Prayaga S, Marashdeh M, Bursac Z, Kakar P, Bansal D, Sachdeva R, Kesan SH, Mehta JL.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19188844

When blood sugar levels remain high for several hours, dehydration and more serious complications can develop. Even slightly raised blood sugar levels (a fasting blood sugar over 109 mg/dL or 6.05 mmol/L) when unrecognized - can damage multiple tissues in the brain, kidneys, and arteries.

This study investigated the effects of statins on fasting blood sugar levels. The study included diabetics and non-diabetics, statin users and non-users, and analysed the change in fasting blood sugar levels in 345,417 patients, average age 61, over a two year period.

The study found:
(a) Fasting blood sugar levels increased by an extra 29% in non-diabetic statin users compared to non-diabetic non-users.
(b) Fasting blood sugar levels increased by an extra 18% in diabetic statin users compared to diabetic non-users.

The study reveals that statin use is associated with a rise of fasting blood glucose levels in patients with and without diabetes.