The fact that many women looking to lower their low-density lipoprotien (LDL) cholesterol levels say they had no idea that Lipitor side effects could include type-2 diabetes face an even larger problem: the complications that arise from this chronic condition are ones that are more worrisome for female vs. male patients.

Many Lipitor lawsuit attorneys report that their clients have experienced problems such as kidney failure, heart disease and blindness. Yet the federal Centers for Disease Control note that women have significantly higher risks for these conditions compared to their male counterparts. Mortality rates for younger women who have been diagnosed with Lipitor type-2 diabetes side effects are three times greater than those who have not.

More importantly, the signs of heart-related problems in women differ from those that could indicate a cardiac infarction in a man. Up to a few weeks before the event, women may have difficulty sleeping and anxiety, yet not have any signs of a heart attack such as arm pain.

In addition, the effects on blood sugar and nutrient levels can lead to diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage, a condition often cited in complaints filed by women who allege Lipitor type-2 diabetes side effects. However, since the condition is not curable, in several years, muscle tissue can begin to die off, especially in the upper leg, and be extremely painful and difficult to treat.

With all of this in mind, plaintiffs still say that these risks are not clearly advertised by drug maker Pfizer Inc. A recent label change mentions that “increases in (HbA1c) and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with statin use, including Lipitor,” but women who have developed the condition say this language is confusing and does not properly advise of the risk of type-2 diabetes.