Doctor Warns Women that Cholesterol Drugs Can Cause Diabetes
By Jessica Tyner
According to Dr. Mark Hyman, some cholesterol medications like Lipitor do more harm than good. In fact, Dr. Hyman says, “If you are a postmenopausal woman with high cholesterol, your doctor will almost certainly recommend cholesterol lowering medication or statins. And it just might kill you.”
He’s referring to the numerous studies like the one published in the Archives of Internal Medicine that showed Lipitor caused a 71 percent increased risk in women in this category developing type-2 diabetes.
Lipitor Red Flags
Other studies aren’t quite as severe as the one claiming a 71 percent increased risk of Lipitor diabetes in older women. For example, Dr. Hyman also points to the study by the Women’s Health Initiative that states women who take Lipitor face a 48 percent increased risk of diabetes. However, when this study took place, fewer women were on drugs like Lipitor. He estimates that given the current amount of older women taking the drug, that Lipitor diabetes study would also jump to the 70-percent range.
He notes that these risks increased in women with and without heart disease. Thin women are particularly at risk for Lipitor diabetes, and minority women were also at a greater risk. The risk breakdown was 48 percent for white women, 57 percent for Latina women, and a shocking 78 percent for Asian women. Dr. Hyman says, “Thank God only 50 percent of prescriptions are ever filled by patients.” Otherwise, he estimates there would be an additional three million diabetics in the U.S.
Just How Bad is Cholesterol?
Surprisingly, Dr. Hyman points out that higher cholesterol levels in older people actually prevent them from having heart attacks. However, “lower cholesterol may kill you.” He believes the high number of cholesterol medications given to older patients is partly because it’s profitable and partly because the latest studies on cholesterol and heart disease aren’t being looked at. There’s a big difference between a first heart attack and secondary heart attacks.
Some “studies show no proven benefits of statins in healthy women with high cholesterol or anyone over 69 years old.” Dr. Hyman recommends that older women who haven’t had a heart attack seriously reconsider taking Lipitor.
Did You Get Diabetes from Lipitor?
Were you diabetes-free, but then diagnosed with type-2 diabetes after taking Lipitor? If so, you might have a Lipitor legal claim. Diabetes is a chronic disease that needs to be managed for life via diet, exercise and sometimes medication. That’s a costly and unfair undertaking.
Learn more at the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation and submit your information for a free legal review. You may have a case to seek compensation through a Lipitor diabetes lawsuit settlement.
Updated June 18th, 2013
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