A 2012 article by Dr. Ravi V. Shah and Dr. Allison B. Goldfine titled “Statins and Risk of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus” published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, provides important insight into the connection between statin use and new onset diabetes.
The team writes “For any prescription drug, the potential benefits to health must be balanced against potential risks. Understanding these potential risks can help physicians and patients make informed decisions on whether to use a medication. Recently, statins, a class of medications prescribed to treat high cholesterol levels, have been found to modestly increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. It is clear that statins can prevent future major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and deaths from cardiovascular causes, in patients who have had a previous heart attack or those with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. However, the associations between diabetes mellitus and statin use have raised concerns over the widespread use of statin medications in patients at lower risk for cardiovascular disease”
Here is another excerpt: “Although patients on statins do have a higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus during the studies, they also experience a significant drop in cardiovascular events. In 1 study, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 27% more patients receiving a statin (rosuvastatin) compared with patients receiving placebo (an identical appearing pill that does not contain medication), but patients receiving the statin had a significant 54% lower risk of heart attack, 48% lower risk of stroke, and 20% lower risk of death from any cause.3”
Click here to read the full article on statins and diabetes
Because the manufacturer or Lipitor has failed time and again to notify users of the risk for diabetes, a number of Lipitor diabetes lawsuits have been filed. If you or a loved one used Lipitor and suffered diabetes as a result, you too may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of Lipitor lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.
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