Cholesterol Drugs Increase Risk of Diabetes The drugs, called
statins, provide a serious benefit for those with heart disease
--by lowering cholesterol, they reduce the risk of heart attack
and stroke. This presents a conflict for individuals prescribed
the drugs: which is worse, taking the drugs or staying off them?
Researchers say the risk is worth it: for every person who
developed diabetes in the study, three people were protected
against a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke,
according to study researcher David Preiss, of the University of
Glasgow in Scotland. "In patients at high cardiovascular risk,
there is little doubt that the benefits will strongly outweigh
any risks, and we are keen to reinforce the message that
patients keep taking their medication," Preiss told
LiveScience.com. The study indicated that patients taking a high
dose of statins were 12 percent more likely to develop diabetes
that those who took a moderate dose, but those taking the same
dose of statins were 17 percent