Side-effects of statins: Have you experienced changes in blood sugar?

Posted by naiviv @naiviv, Nov 7 8:22pm

Hello. I am taking Metformin for pre-diabetes which has my blood sugar in normal levels and my cardiologist recommended me to start a statin because it was found I have a Lipoprotein A high (268). I have to confess that I have heard so much of statins causing problems with muscle pain and high blood sugar, that I am hesitant to take any of them. He told me he could start with low dose statin but that it was up to me to do it. My lipids are normal except my LDL is 116 (best results are less than 100). Has anyone have ever had side effects with statins? How about blood sugar levels while using statins? I know that I have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease because of the LipoA and my genes (both parents had heart issues). Let me know if someone wants to share experience with statins. Thank you

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I just started taking a 5 mg statin a few weeks ago, and I haven't noticed any side effects. 5 mg is a very low dose and is unlikely to cause issues.

P.S. I had to laugh when I got the prescription because the 5 mg pill is the tiniest pill I've ever seen. It was actually hard to pick up.

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@naiviv
From my cardiologist at Mayo Clinic the benefits of taking a statin if you have high cholesterol especially LDL outweighs the cons.

Your LDL is high but not really high. As you did mention below 100 is a goal. I take 40 mg of Astorvastatin (spell). It is the highest dose as when they did a catherization of me they did find plaque.

Statins have been out there now for decades. So a lot of research on them is available. One of the most common side affects is muscle soreness. This happens as the statins remove co-Q-10 from muscles. So to counteract that most cardiologist recommend taking co-q-10. I take a product called ubiqunol which is a better form of co-q-10 that is absorb better. I did this prior to taking statin and did not have any muscle pains.

My wife was also put on a statin and had muscle pains. I had her check with her doctors about co-q-10 and they approved it. She started taking co-q-10 and the muscle pains went away. Now of course this is indviduals not you so not saying this will work but something to asked your doctors about.

Every year my HF does a complete blood work on me. My LDL is around 60 and HDL (good time) around 60. He is very pleased with that and so am I.
Good Luck!!

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@jc76

@naiviv
From my cardiologist at Mayo Clinic the benefits of taking a statin if you have high cholesterol especially LDL outweighs the cons.

Your LDL is high but not really high. As you did mention below 100 is a goal. I take 40 mg of Astorvastatin (spell). It is the highest dose as when they did a catherization of me they did find plaque.

Statins have been out there now for decades. So a lot of research on them is available. One of the most common side affects is muscle soreness. This happens as the statins remove co-Q-10 from muscles. So to counteract that most cardiologist recommend taking co-q-10. I take a product called ubiqunol which is a better form of co-q-10 that is absorb better. I did this prior to taking statin and did not have any muscle pains.

My wife was also put on a statin and had muscle pains. I had her check with her doctors about co-q-10 and they approved it. She started taking co-q-10 and the muscle pains went away. Now of course this is indviduals not you so not saying this will work but something to asked your doctors about.

Every year my HF does a complete blood work on me. My LDL is around 60 and HDL (good time) around 60. He is very pleased with that and so am I.
Good Luck!!

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Thank you. Stay safe and healthy.

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@njx58

I just started taking a 5 mg statin a few weeks ago, and I haven't noticed any side effects. 5 mg is a very low dose and is unlikely to cause issues.

P.S. I had to laugh when I got the prescription because the 5 mg pill is the tiniest pill I've ever seen. It was actually hard to pick up.

Jump to this post

Thank you.

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https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-brazil-nuts
Reduced risk of heart disease

Brazil nuts contain high levels of monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats. Incorporating monounsaturated fat into your diet can help to improve your cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. The dietary fiber in Brazil nuts can also help to lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Have you had a calcium scoring test? Age? Weight? Lifestyle? Lipids panel? Advanced lipids panel? Stress test? Peripheral artery blockage test?

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Calcium scoring? No.
Age 72
Weight 154
Lifestyle: Great. Mediterranean diet, exercising. No carbs no sugars no smoking no alcohol
Stress test: yes
PAB nope

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@swilkins1974

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-brazil-nuts
Reduced risk of heart disease

Brazil nuts contain high levels of monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats. Incorporating monounsaturated fat into your diet can help to improve your cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. The dietary fiber in Brazil nuts can also help to lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Jump to this post

Thank you. Didn’t know it.

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@njx58

I just started taking a 5 mg statin a few weeks ago, and I haven't noticed any side effects. 5 mg is a very low dose and is unlikely to cause issues.

P.S. I had to laugh when I got the prescription because the 5 mg pill is the tiniest pill I've ever seen. It was actually hard to pick up.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I am going to get CoQ10 too. My husband is taking a statin and CoQ10 and he feels good. As a matter of fact his cardiologist told him that he recommends his patients to take the statin with CoQ10 before going to bed. Stay safe and healthy.

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That reminds me I need to get back on CoQ10. My cardiologist recommended it and I started with it but then lapsed. And I have been having a very difficult time with some muscle pulls that seem odd. I am not by any means sure that they are statin related but I get them too easily and they don't want to heal. So back on CoQ10 for now. Thanks for the reminder.

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