--- title: Statin Risks: Heart Drugs May Increase Diabetes Risk by 46% description: Statins can lower cholesterol and even tamp down inflammation to keep the risk of heart disease down. But these commonly prescribed drugs may increase the risk of diabetes, and by a considerable amount canonical: https://time.com/3732605/statins-may-seriously-increase-diabetes-risk/ author: Alice Park article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-04T23:07:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:05:13.999Z article:section: Health og:title: Statins May Seriously Increase Risk of Diabetes og:description: Statins can lower cholesterol and even tamp down inflammation to keep the risk of heart disease down. But these commonly prescribed drugs may increase the risk of diabetes, and by a considerable amount og:url: https://time.com/3732605/statins-may-seriously-increase-diabetes-risk/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbf2af4c9aead42b7/698782288e06016c0f45a9f7/128585544.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5400 og:image:height: 3038 og:image:alt: 128585544 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Statins May Seriously Increase Risk of Diabetes twitter:description: Statins can lower cholesterol and even tamp down inflammation to keep the risk of heart disease down. But these commonly prescribed drugs may increase the risk of diabetes, and by a considerable amount twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbf2af4c9aead42b7/698782288e06016c0f45a9f7/128585544.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Statins May Seriously Increase Diabetes Risk > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.  by [Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Senior Correspondent Mar 4, 2015 11:07 PM UTC  Lipitor (Atorvastatin calcium) is a synthetic lipid-lowering agent created to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels when accompanied with diet changes. Lowering blood levels of fat and cholesterol can help reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, ang Lipitor (Atorvastatin calcium) is a synthetic lipid-lowering agent created to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels when accompanied with diet changes. Lowering blood levels of fat and cholesterol can help reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, angGetty Images  by [Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)  ## Alice Park Senior Correspondent Mar 4, 2015 11:07 PM UTC Doctors may have to weigh a serious potential risk before prescribing statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs that are among most prescribed drugs in America. In a study published in _Diabetologia_, scientists from Finland found that men prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol had a 46% greater chance of developing diabetes after six years compared to those who weren’t taking the drug. What’s more, the statins seemed to make people more resistant to the effects of insulin—which breaks down sugar—and to secrete less insulin. The impact on insulin seemed to be greatest among those who started out with the lowest, and closest to normal, levels of blood glucose. And the higher the dose of the statin, and the longer the patients took them, the greater their risk of diabetes. Previous studies have suggested that [statins can raise blood sugar levels](http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/29/fda-warns-statin-users-of-memory-loss-and-diabetes-risks/), and increase the risk of diabetes by anywhere from 10% to 20%, but none have documented an effect this large. Doctors often consider statins for patients who are at higher risk of heart disease, and one of the risk factors for future heart trouble is diabetes. So how do these results affect that decision? “It’s a good news-bad news scenario,” says Dr. Robert Eckel, past president of the American Heart Association and professor of medicine at University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Although there is convincing evidence that patients on statins are at increased risk of new-onset diabetes, the benefit accrued \[from statins\] in reducing risks of heart attack, stroke and fatal heart disease trumps the effects of being new onset diabetics.” In other words, the good that statins can do for people who are not yet diabetic but at higher risk of heart problems [outweighs the increased risk of diabetes](http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/10/should-you-take-statins-study-says-heart-benefits-outweigh-diabetes-risk/). **MORE** [New Guidelines for Cholesterol Treatments Represent “Huge Change”](http://healthland.time.com/2013/11/12/new-guidelines-for-cholesterol-treatments-represent-huge-change/) And while the increased risk that the Finnish scientists found — 46% — is noteworthy, Eckel points out that the study involved only white men, and therefore may not be generalizable to a broader population. It’s not clear what the men’s family history or personal history of diabetes was; some may have had other risk factors for the disease that put them at higher risk of developing diabetes anyway, even if they didn’t take a statin. Those who developed diabetes while taking statins were similar on many metabolic measures to those who developed diabetes but weren’t taking statins, suggesting that “that statin treatment increased the risk of diabetes independently of the risk profile of the background population,” the authors write. In a separate, U.S.-based study on statins, researchers found that those who went on to develop diabetes while taking statins also had risk factors for the disease before they started taking the medications. **MORE** [Should You Take Statins? Study Says Heart Benefits Outweigh Diabetes Risk](http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/10/should-you-take-statins-study-says-heart-benefits-outweigh-diabetes-risk/) Which means that for confused patients, and their doctors, the current advice about who should take statins doesn’t change. The results, in fact, highlight the need for a discussion rather than just working through a checklist before prescribing statins. For patients who may not yet be diabetic, but are vulnerable to developing the disease and also may need a statin, Dr. Neil Stone, lead author of the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association [cholesterol guidelines](http://healthland.time.com/2013/11/12/new-guidelines-for-cholesterol-treatments-represent-huge-change/), says he stresses the importance of lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. “If you have a patient who is prone to developing diabetes, you’re getting into a higher risk group, because they also have risk factors associated with heart disease. So they have the potential to benefit from statins. If they are going to take a statin, I tell them we are going to help you get more fit, and work with your lifestyle. It’s even more important because if you don’t do that, and the patient decides to take the statin and go on with their unhealthy habits, then they are going to be even more prone to developing diabetes,” says Stone. The patient’s family history of diabetes is another important part of the decision to start someone on a statin. It’s all about making sure that each patient’s risks and benefits are weighed carefully. And the potentially greater risk of diabetes created by statins should be part of that consideration. “Communication here is everything,” says Eckel. _Read next:_ [_New Hormone Discovered That Curbs Weight Gain, Diabetes Just Like Exercise_](http://time.com/3731313/science-health-diabetes-obesity-insulin/?xid=time%5Freadnext) ### See the 10 Healthiest Cities to Live in America  Honolulu, Hawaii Best Place for Lifelong Health The heavenly climate helps, but the key to well-being here also includes enviable health care and a rich cultural tradition of looking out for one another. Colin Anderson—Blend Images/Corbis  San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Best Place for Eating Right. The "farm to table" movement began here. The region's bounty of produce and year-round growing season make eating healthy—and local—a natural. Getty Images  Burlington, Vt. Best Place for Raising Healthy Kids This New England city offers great schools, excellent pediatric care, loads of culture and limitless options for healthy outdoor fun all year long. Matt Hogan/www.mphoganphoto.com  Silicon Valley, Calif. Best Place for Workplace Wellness With treadmill desks, meetings on bikes, time off for creativity, and gobs of organic food, tech titans are reinventing how to stay healthy on the job. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Best Place for Aging Well Yes, it can be cold. But with a plethora of stimulating activities and a robust web of support, the Twin Cities prove that growing old doesn't mean slowing down. Getty Images  Denver and Boulder, Colo. Best Place for Keeping Fit The urge to get outside and get moving is contagious in these Rocky Mountain cities, where physical challenge is built into the landscape. Celin Serbo—Aurora Photos/Corbis  Plano, Texas Best Place for Staying Safe Once a rural outpost, this booming, diverse city has kept its small-town vibe, thanks in part to a police force and community that knows how to work together. Misty Keasler—Redux for TIME  Portland, Ore. Best Place for a Healthy Environment Small, walkable neighborhoods, 300 miles of bike paths, and urban policies that foster active living and sustainability make for one clean, green city. Getty Images  Boston, Mass. Best Place for Health Care This history-rich city is home to some of the nation's most advanced medical institutions and policies that help ensure that quality care is available to all. K.C. Cohen—Courtesy of Boston Children's Hospital  Provo and Orem, Utah Best Place for Spiritual Well-Being A stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop and a tight-knit population that lives its faith contribute not only to this region's serenity but also to lower rates of disease. Getty Images [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3732605/statins-may-seriously-increase-diabetes-risk/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3732605/statins-may-seriously-increase-diabetes-risk/"},"headline":"Statins May Seriously Increase Diabetes Risk","datePublished":"2015-03-04T23:07:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:05:13.999Z","description":"Statins can lower cholesterol and even tamp down inflammation to keep the risk of heart disease down. 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