Statins Raise Diabetes Risk

If you’re taking a cholesterol lowering drug it’s critical you keep an eye on your blood sugar. Statins can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in as little as 3 years.

Statins are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs; examples include Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor and Lescol. They work by inhibiting the action of the enzyme inside the liver that’s responsible for cholesterol production. Your liver manufactures cholesterol primarily out of carbohydrate, sugar, alcohol and any excess calories you’ve consumed through your diet. People with insulin resistance are most prone to developing elevated cholesterol and triglycerides because they do not metabolize carbohydrate well. If you take a cholesterol lowering drug and those carbohydrates can no longer be converted into cholesterol, what happens to them? They are more likely to remain in your bloodstream and give you an elevated blood sugar reading.

Postmenopausal women are most prone to developing type 2 diabetes while taking statins. This is according to data obtained from the Women’s Health Initiative study and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Postmenopausal women who took a statin for at least 3 years were 47 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. If you are concerned about your cholesterol level or your blood sugar, berberine is a highly effective natural medicine that can help to normalize both. Berberine can help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides if they are abnormally elevated. It does this by lowering an enzyme called PCSK9. This way, LDL cholesterol (which has traditionally been referred to as “bad cholesterol”) can be removed from your bloodstream. This means cholesterol is less likely to accumulate on your artery walls and narrow them.

High cholesterol often goes hand in hand with high blood pressure, abdominal obesity and elevated blood sugar. Together, these conditions form a condition that’s commonly referred to as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, pre-diabetes or syndrome X. Some patients do require cholesterol lowering drugs, but in the vast majority, a safer and healthier option exists.

Ways to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes

• Base your diet on vegetables, protein and good fats. These foods will keep you feeling full and will keep your blood sugar level stable throughout the day.  This is very important in order to prevent hypoglycaemia, sugar cravings, foggy head and fatigue. Many people trying to lose weight actually don’t eat enough protein and fat.  They are in such a rush to lose weight and want to reach their goal tomorrow, that they eat too little food.  This is dangerous territory because you will be at far greater risk of bingeing on all the wrong foods once you get tired and hungry enough. When eating protein rich foods like fish, poultry or red meat, please eat a palm and a half sized portion. Whey protein powder is an excellent source of protein that’s highly satiating. It will help to keep you feeling full for many hours and reduces the risk of sugar cravings. Please include good fats in your diet like olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and oily fish such as salmon.  People who don’t eat enough protein and fat usually crave sugar and carbohydrate. For more information see the book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse it
• Reduce the sugar, carbohydrate and industrial seed oils in your diet.  These foods are what create a fatty liver in the first place.  Most people with a fatty liver got one because they ate more carbohydrate than their liver could process.  Carbohydrate rich foods include sugar, flour, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, breakfast cereals and grains.  The liver is very proficient at converting these foods into fat.  The other food that promotes the formation of a fatty liver is omega 6 rich vegetable oil.  Fried foods and packaged foods like crisps, chips, crackers and cookies are usually full of the wrong fats. If you experience strong sugar cravings, Glicemic Balance capsules reduce cravings by balancing your blood sugar.
• Take a good quality liver tonic. Diet changes will work on their own eventually, but you should reach your goals sooner, and feel more energetic sooner if you take a good quality liver tonic. Livatone Plus contains the nutrients your liver needs in order to burn fat efficiently and detoxify your bloodstream.

If you need help with your cholesterol level, see our book Cholesterol the Real Truth for more information.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.