by Susan Eustis
The Food and Drug Administration raised questions about the side effects of cholesterol-lowering statins, and the consequences of taking statins. The FDA indicates that there could be a sharp increase in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is thought to account for 75% of health care delivery costs, this FDA notification has serious implications for the economy.
And, who wants to deliberately walk into to a disease of type 2 diabetes as they are trying to control their cholesterol? Apparently, according to a large double blind study, the more potent statins, at higher doses, had the risk of diabetes. The statins include Zocor (now known as simvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), and Crestor (rosuvastatin).
For those statins, the higher the dose, the more diabetes. The cause and effect was unequivocal. Multiple large trials of the more potent statins showed a consistent pattern of more diabetes than would otherwise be anticipated.
As the Food and Drug Administration raised questions about the side effects of the statin drugs, patients, clinicians, hospitals and drug companies need to be thinking about the alternatives.
New labels for these medications listed above warn of the risk of diabetes and memory loss. Memory loss? Who wants to take a drug that induces memory loss? Are there alternatives? Less Mac and cheese? Who eats mac and cheese anyhow? The FDA announcement said the risk was “small”. The report is that the data is ambiguous for memory loss. Statins and Type 2 Diabetes and memory loss are inextricably linked apparently, the question is what to do now if you are at risk.
It is pretty clear that no one wants to deliberately walk into to a disease of memory loss, especially one caused by taking a pill. Weight loss is one way to combat the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol levels. WinterGreen Research has underway a market research study on the impact of this research and the viability of the various weight loss services, hospital based and other.