Use of statins is associated with increased insulin resistance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

This study was published in Diabetes Care 2012 Oct;35(10):2095-9

Study title and authors:
Statin intake is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity during cardiac surgery.

Sato H, Carvalho G, Sato T, Hatzakorzian R, Lattermann R, Codere-Maruyama T, Matsukawa T, Schricker T.
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. hsatou@yamanashi.ac.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22829524

 

This study investigated the association between preoperative statin therapy and insulin sensitivity during surgery in 120 nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

 

Low insulin sensitivity (or increased insulin resistance) is a condition in which the cells of the body become resistant to the hormone insulin. Insulin resistance may be part of the metabolic syndrome, and it has been associated with higher risk of developing heart disease. Insulin resistance precedes the development of type two diabetes.

 

High blood sugar levels and a greater oscillation (greater variation) of blood sugar levels lead to damaged blood vessels and diabetes and may cause a multitude of complications such as: Kidney disease or kidney failure requiring dialysis, strokes, heart attacks, visual loss or blindness, immune system suppression with increased risk for infections, erectile dysfunction, nerve damage causing tingling, pain or decreased sensation in the feet, legs, and hands, and poor circulation to the legs and feet, with poor wound healing. In extreme cases, because of the poor wound healing, amputation is required.

 

The study found:

(a) Insulin sensitivity was ∼20% lower in those taking statins compared to those not taking statins.

(b) Blood sugar levels were 9% higher in those taking statins compared to those not taking statins.

(c) The oscillation of blood sugar levels was larger in those taking statins compared to those not taking statins. 

The study results show that preoperative use of statins is associated with increased insulin resistance in nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

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.