Analysis Version
v1
History
Back
assertion
Analysis v1
Supported

Taking statins can slightly raise your chance of getting type 2 diabetes, especially if you’re already at risk.

64
Pro
47
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (2)

64

Community contributions welcome

59

HMG-coenzyme A reductase inhibition, type 2 diabetes, and bodyweight: evidence from genetic analysis and randomised trials

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Human

This study found that statins, which lower cholesterol, also slightly raise blood sugar and weight, making it a bit more likely for people to develop type 2 diabetes — especially if they already have insulin problems. So yes, the study backs up the claim.

6

Chronic HMGCR/HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor treatment contributes to dysglycemia by upregulating hepatic gluconeogenesis through autophagy induction

Cohort Study
Animal
2015 Nov 2

This study shows that statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, can make the liver produce more sugar and become less responsive to insulin — especially in people who are already insulin resistant — which helps explain why they might raise the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Contradicting (2)

47

Community contributions welcome

47

#2667 The effect of pravastatin on insulin resistance in kidney transplant recipients. A randomized, placebo-controlled cross over trial

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human

This study gave kidney transplant patients with insulin resistance a common statin called pravastatin and found it didn't make their blood sugar worse — even though they were at high risk for diabetes. This goes against the idea that all statins increase diabetes risk.

47

#247 The effect of pravastatin on insulin resistance in patients with CKD stage 1-3. A randomized, placebo-controlled cross over trial

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human

This study gave people with early kidney disease a common cholesterol drug called pravastatin and found it didn’t make their blood sugar worse or increase diabetes risk — which goes against the idea that all statins raise diabetes risk.

Similar Assertions

Blocking the HMGCR enzyme — whether by statin drugs or your genes — makes you about 11–12% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and this isn’t because the drugs lower cholesterol.

59
0
90%

Even though statins make you gain a little weight, that tiny gain can’t explain why you’re 11% more likely to get diabetes — something else about blocking HMGCR is making your body worse at handling sugar.

59
0
87%

Even high-dose statins don’t make you gain more weight than low-dose ones — but they still raise your diabetes risk more — meaning weight gain isn’t the reason higher doses are riskier.

59
0
83%

People with a gene version that blocks HMGCR have slightly higher blood sugar and insulin levels — meaning their bodies are less efficient at managing sugar, even before they become diabetic.

59
0
78%

Taking statins or having a specific gene version makes people gain a little bit of weight and get a slightly bigger waist, even if they don’t eat more — this is because blocking the HMGCR enzyme affects how the body stores fat.

59
0
74%

Related Content