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Statins

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R

robrace

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Type 2
Had my 12 month diabetes revue(diagnosed march2019 type2) Nurse said good result blood test revealed down to 49,but cholesterol level 6.5 and advised I take statins!!Told her I was’nt keen as my brother had took them and had problems with his joints.She persuaded me try them and I agreed.hav’nt took any yet because everyone I have mentioned it to says don’t take them that they have had them and had problems.Now I don’t know wether to take them or to try and get my cholesterol lever down naturally.She wants to take blood test in 2 months to see if any improvement with level.what to you think?just checked my medical history online and see it’s 5.5 not 6.5.must get them to check my hearing
 
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Hi Robrace, and welcome to the forum.

You have been advised, quite rightly, to take a statin.Your cholesterol level isn’t directly determined by what you eat. Most cholesterol is made in the liver, so changing your diet may have no effect on your level.

The vast majority of users of statins have no significant side effects, but the ones who do make the most noise. It’s long been known that some folk can get muscle problems resulting from statins, but that is rare, when you consider the millions who take statins.

Although a level of 6.5 isn’t panic stations, it’s well worth taking the statin to get the total level down, but in future ask your DSN to check the ratios of HDL and LDL. It’s the LDL you need to reduce, and statins do that job efficiently.

As I’ve said, most folk who take statins have no side effects, and take the tablets with no bother. I used to take Simvastatin, which was started because my total cholesterol reached the giddy heights of 5.2. The only side effect I noticed was vivid dreams. Not nightmares, just dreams in Ultra HD.
 
Ive been taking statins since march. Advised by my GP due to my age (over 40). I've had no side effects at all.
 
Interestingly, so far no one has tried to push statins at me. My Cholesterol was 5.6 at diagnosis but my ratio was good and it has come down a bit since then despite changing to a low carb, high fat diet, which corresponds to what Mikeyb says about diet not being the important factor we have been lead to believe. They usually like diabetics to be under 4 but every diabetes specialist I have seen so far has not been concerned about the fact mine is higher.
I do wonder why some people get pressured into taking statins and others don't.
 
Statins are really good at getting your LDL down, and that can significantly reduce your risk of things like heart failure, stroke etc. Most people have no probs with them. A few have muscle issues. If that happens, you can stop taking them and try another type of statin. Any side effect more serious than that is really rare.

But your doc should take you through all this before you decide: what your risks are, how much benefit you'd expect from a statin, what side effects you might find & what to do about them.

Personally, I take the max dose of what I think is the strongest statin, and I've never had any issues.
 
Hello @robrace welcome to the forum.

Statins hmm, If I can give you my personnel experience and no one else's.
As @mikeyB says most people can take them without any issues, I know of
many people who successfully take them. My own case is a barge pole wouldn`t
get me near them again, tried three different types each time major problems.

Not for me to tell you what is right or wrong but @mikeyB is/was a trained HCP
who a lot of us rely on for medical information. Discuss with your GP any concerns
you may have?

I see @Eddy Edson has just posted? there`s a man who may be able to guide you,
just don`t call him Joey, stay safe.
 
I had dreadful reactions to the Metformin and Atorvastatin prescribed at diagnosis.
Lowering LDL might not be a good idea as people tend to live longer with higher levels of LDL. Someone checked.
I believe that Atorvastatin can cross into the brain - which is mostly lipids. I have not quite fully recovered my memory and mental abilities, but I thought I was heading either for a care home or down to the beach on a dark night.
 
I think the answer really is to try them and see how you get on and stop them if you feel unwell.
 
Both my mother and father took statins and had really bad joint problems!so they came off them.Dad has had diabetes type 2 for 30 to 40 years.he will be 100 years old if he makes his next birthday.He is fit for his age and can still walk to the local shops etc.Mum will be 97 next year.and still gets about.thanks for all the advice! My wife thinks I should try taking the statins that I have (atorvastatin) and see how it works out!
 
In that situation I can see why you would be reluctant.... firstly because both your parents may have had an adverse reactions but also because they are both long lived without statins, suggesting that they were probably not necessary anyway. Do you know what your parents cholesterol levels are like? Maybe they thrive on higher levels.
 
Have you tried going lower carb with your diet? It does tend to help a lot of folk both with lowering blood glucose and blood cholesterol.
 
No don’t know what their levels are but dad is overdue for a blood test.Think he’s getting one early July so will be interesting to see.Trying to cut down on the carbs and want to lose at least another 11 lbs to get into the 12 stone bracket.Lockdown hasn’t helped but determined to get there.
 
Hi. First don't ley the GP imply that statins are part of diabetes medication. That's a step too far. NICE do set a Total of 4 rather than 5 for non-diabetics but that's merely plucked from thin air. The Total is far less important than the various Ratios so they should be prescribed based on bad Ratios not bad Total. Statins are far less important for women than men, apparently, so that's important. Don't let the GP/DN prescribe a dosage that's too high. You should start low and then have that increased until the Ratios come into the right region. I do take a middling dose and have no problems but my wife was prescribed them and her liver objected wildly with pain so stopped - they can be dangerous.
 
Just been on line to access my medical records and see total cholesterol level is 5.5mmo/l.HDL 1.3 mmol HDL ratio 4.2.this was all as result of last weeks blood test.
 
OK - but they don't actually measure LDL anyway! It's estimated, based on quite a process which I once wrote down longhand literally on the back of an envelope (the sort where you fold an A4 letter into 3, I forget the envelope size) and it took about half the envelope. (Think Alan Shanley originally posted it years ago on DSF)
 
Same here, Dr wants me on stations despite cholesterol levels being good, decided to discuss things with diabetes Consultant but appointment cancelled due to covid.

In late 50s now & fear things like heart attacks strokes, so would be happy to take statin if need be to reduce chances of one happening, value Consultants opinion more than Dr so holding off for now until new appointment arrives.
 
I was prescribed statins once diagnosed with T1 at 53. My cholesterol at that time was 7.5
It has come down to 5 and stubbornly won’t move from there.

I have not noticed any reaction to the statin and I am happy to take them for the protection that they offer as a result of lower cholesterol.
 
Since you agreed with the nurse, I think it’s best to keep an open mind and give them a go, they try another sort if atorvastatin doesn’t suit.

No reason why you couldn’t also try a low carb approach If you experience any aches - but do bear in mind that folks on placebo arms of trials often experience side effects if they know what they are expecting.

that’s not to say that some people don’t have problems with statins... it’s just that the mind is incredibly powerful and if you know what you think a tablet will cause you could well experience it.

It sounds like the nurse knows your reservations, so I tried them and didn’t get on with them is an easy conversation to have if you need it.
 
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