Studies Link Lipitor and Other Statins to Type-2 Diabetes

By TopClassActions | October 9, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

By Robert J. Boumis

Believe it or not, high cholesterol is not entirely the result of diet and lifestyle — high cholesterol is also related to an individual’s own physiology. Drugs like Lipitor are designed to interfere with the body’s production of cholesterol. However, evidence has mounted that these drugs are associated with an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes is a disorder wherein the body malfunctions, leaving a patient with a reduced ability to control his or her blood sugar. Since patients with this form of diabetes often do not respond to their own insulin, this form of diabetes is often called “insulin resistant” diabetes. Additionally, since this form of the disease tends to develop later in life, it is called “adult onset diabetes,” though younger and younger patients have been diagnosed with the disease. While a high-fat/high sugar diet and sedentary lifestyle can contribute to this disorder, recent studies have suggested that drugs like Lipitor can increase a patient’s risk of developing diabetes.

While a 2013 cohort study found that postmenopausal women on statins (the family of drugs that includes Lipitor) were more likely to develop the disorder, an earlier meta-study revealed the same trend against different demographics. A meta-study or meta-analysis is a type of study wherein different scientific articles and experiments are compared and contrasted, looking for general trends on a topic. The meta-analysis of revealed a link between taking this drug and an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes. These studies controlled for other risk factors like lifestyle and diet, and still found an increased risk of the disease in patients taking these drugs.

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Lipitor. These Lipitor lawsuits allege that the manufacturers were aware – or reasonably should have been aware, based on peer-reviewed research like the meta-analysis, routine postmarket surveillance like the AERS system, and their own clinical trials – of the risk of diabetes associated with these drugs. The Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits further allege that not only did manufacturers fail to act on this information in a timely manner, but actively concealed the risks, preventing patients and health care professionals from having the information they needed to make informed decisions regarding their medical care.

Obtain a Free Lipitor Diabetes Lawsuit Evaluation

If you or someone you care about took Lipitor and went on to develop type-2 diabetes, you’ve almost certainly found yourself in a challenging situation. Coping with diabetes usually requires major changes to your life. A diabetes diagnosis typically requires carefully controlling your diet, adding more exercise to your daily routine and adopting a medication regimen.

Patients adapting to diabetes often feel overwhelmed and depressed at the situation. However, regardless of the challenges you have found yourself facing, you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a free review by a legal expert with a background in this type of litigation. This initial consultation is completely free of charge, and from here you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

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