Sometimes, we may think, "Is it the disease itself which is triggering fears in our minds or is it something else?" Yes, this is the question which rests in our minds when we start thinking about the doctor's prescriptions and the possible side effects of the drugs. Ultimately, it's the treatment and not the disease which bothers us.
And our fears seem to gain some momentum with a study claiming that cholesterol lowering drugs may raise the risk of Diabetes Type II. This study has suggested that individuals who are taking statins in order to reduce their risks of heart problems and strokes are actually increasing their risks of becoming diabetics.
The study considered to examine 33,000 people, who were on a moderate to high dosage of statins. There were five separate studies conducted on them. None of the study subjects was diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning.
The researchers found that for every 498 subjects who were on a high dose of the drug for an entire year, one additional individual will become diabetic than if they were on a moderate dose of the cholesterol lowering drug.
On the other side, researchers pointed out that the higher dosage of statins may prevent a minimum of three more cardiovascular events and this result may not be expected if they are on a moderate dose. Researchers opined that doctors should assess the overall risks and benefits in the use of statins so as to facilitate a safer cholesterol management.
Researchers hope that the finding will encourage the development of a safer, side effect-free statin alterative. But at the same time, they also highlighted the importance of regular exercises and a low-salt diet with minimum amounts of saturated fat in the prevention of strokes and other cardiovascular problems.
