Statins and Diabetes

Statins may increase diabetes risk.
Bloomberg News (2/17, Cortez) reports that, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in The Lancet, statins may increase the risk of developing diabetes. After analyzing 13 studies of statins encompassing "more than 90,000 patients," researchers found that "the risk" for developing diabetes is "tied to the entire class of medications, and the danger increases with age."
"More than six million adults currently taking statins are being advised to carry on taking them by researchers and leading medical charities, who stress that the benefits far outweigh the risks," the UK's Daily Mail (2/17, Hope) reports. Specifically, "researchers say that treating 255 patients with statins for four years results in one extra case of diabetes, but saves five major coronary events, such as heart disease death or heart attack." Nevertheless, "the review will put the brakes on growing calls for statins to be given to 'healthy' people," the Daily Mail points out. HealthDay (2/16, Preidt) and HeartWire (2/16, O'Riordan) also covered the story.