Is there a relation between statin use and glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients?

Abstract

Objective: Statins are used for decades to treat dyslipidemia, and improve cardiovascular mortality. Although statins are associated with an increase of 9% in diabetes onset; it is not clear how they affect glucose regulation. Therefore we aimed to investigate the effect of statins on glycemic control in a sample of Type 2 Diabetes patients.

Methods: Patient records of the endocrinology outpatient clinics of a university hospital in Turkey between 2008-2013 were retrospectively investigated according to the inclusion criteria to identify the study sample. The statin treated group enrolled 119 patients, while the non-statin group consisted of 28 patients.

Results: Mean age of the study population was 66.8 ± 11.6 (31- 93) years with a male-to-female ratio of 0.67:1. Mean diabetes duration was 10.5 ± 8.9 (1-49) years. Statistical comparisons were made by adjusting groups according to age, diabetes duration, anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive medication. Mean HbA1c percentages in the statin and non-statin group were 7.0 ± 0.1 SEM and 6.4 ± 0.2 SEM respectively (p=0.02). Mean follow-up duration of the study population was 44.3 ± 35.4 (6- 139) months.

Conclusion: Besides increasing diabetes onset, statins also have a significantly negative effect on glucose control during follow up of diabetic patients.