Study title and authors:
Increased risk of diabetes with statin treatment is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion: a 6 year follow-up study of the METSIM cohort
Henna Cederberg & Alena Stančáková & Nagendra Yaluri & Shalem Modi & Johanna Kuusisto & Markku Laakso
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital
This study can be accessed at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/840884
The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the risk of type two diabetes associated with statins. The study included 8,749 non-diabetic men, aged 45–73 years, who were followed up for 5.9 years.
The study found:
(a) Individuals taking statins had a 46% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to individuals not taking statins.
(b) Insulin sensitivity was decreased by 24% in individuals on statin treatment compared with individuals without statin treatment.
(c) Insulin secretion was decreased by 12% in individuals on statin treatment compared with individuals without statin treatment.
Cederberg concluded: "Statin treatment increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 46%, attributable to decreases in insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion".
