From: Elliot Udell, DPM
This finding is unfortunate because when examining the risk/benefit ratio, the evidence is clear that statin use has a greater benefit than risk. Statins reduce the incidence of myocardial infarctions and CVAs. I attended a lecture this past weekend given by an interventional radiologist who said that when he does balloon angioplasties to treat lower extremity arterial blockages, he places patients on statins to reduce the incidence of recurrences.
What is the relationship between the use of statins and incidence of diabetes? Are the pharmaceuticals the cause or is it the fact that people who are placed on statins already have risk factors for diabetes such as hyperlipidemia caused by overeating and lack of exercise? Are all statins implicated or only a select few?
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
