Why statins might make you a little more likely to get diabetes
HMG-coenzyme A reductase inhibition, type 2 diabetes, and bodyweight: evidence from genetic analysis and randomised trials
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Weight gain from statins is tiny (under a pound) but diabetes risk jumps 11–12%—and they’re not directly linked.
Common belief: weight gain causes diabetes. This study proves statins cause both—but independently. The body’s sugar control breaks even when you barely gain weight.
Practical Takeaways
If you're on statins and have prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, ask your doctor about monitoring fasting insulin and HbA1c every 6 months.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Weight gain from statins is tiny (under a pound) but diabetes risk jumps 11–12%—and they’re not directly linked.
Common belief: weight gain causes diabetes. This study proves statins cause both—but independently. The body’s sugar control breaks even when you barely gain weight.
Practical Takeaways
If you're on statins and have prediabetes or metabolic syndrome, ask your doctor about monitoring fasting insulin and HbA1c every 6 months.
Publication
Journal
Lancet
Year
2015
Authors
D. Swerdlow, D. Preiss, K. Kuchenbaecker, M. Holmes, J. Engmann, T. Shah, R. Sofat, S. Stender, Paul C. D. Johnson, R. Scott, M. Leusink, N. Verweij, S. Sharp, Yiran Guo, C. Giambartolomei, C. Chung, A. Peasey, A. Amuzu, Kawah Li, J. Palmen, Philip N. Howard, J. Cooper, F. Drenos, Y. Li, G. Lowe, J. Gallacher, Marlene C. W. Stewart, I. Tzoulaki, Sarah G Buxbaum, D. van der A, N. Forouhi, N. Onland-Moret, Y. T. van der Schouw, R. Schnabel, J. Hubacek, R. Kubínová, M. Baceviciene, A. Tamošiūnas, A. Pająk, R. Topor-Madry, U. Stepaniak, S. Malyutina, D. Baldassarre, B. Sennblad, E. Tremoli, U. de Faire, F. Veglia, I. Ford, J. Jukema, R. Westendorp, G. D. de Borst, P. D. de Jong, A. Algra, W. Spiering, Anke H Maitland-van der Zee, O. Klungel, A. de Boer, P. Doevendans, C. Eaton, Jennifer G. Robinson, D. Duggan, J. Kjekshus, J. Downs, A. Gotto, A. Keech, R. Marchioli, G. Tognoni, P. Sever, N. Poulter, D. Waters, T. Pedersen, P. Amarenco, H. Nakamura, J. McMurray, J. Lewsey, D. Chasman, P. Ridker, A. Maggioni, L. Tavazzi, K. Ray, S. Seshasai, J. Manson, J. Price, P. Whincup, R. Morris, D. Lawlor, G. Smith, Y. Ben-Shlomo, P. Schreiner, M. Fornage, D. Siscovick, M. Cushman, M. Kumari, N. Wareham, W. Verschuren, S. Redline, Sanjay R. Patel, J. Whittaker, A. Hamsten, J. A. Delaney, C. Dale, Tom R. Gaunt, A. Wong, D. Kuh, R. Hardy, S. Kathiresan, B. A. Castillo, P. van der Harst, E. Brunner, A. Tybjaerg-hansen, M. Marmot, R. Krauss, M. Tsai, J. Coresh, R. Hoogeveen, B. Psaty, L. Lange, H. Hakonarson, F. Dudbridge, S. Humphries, P. Talmud, M. Kivimäki, N. Timpson, C. Langenberg, F. Asselbergs, M. Voevoda, M. Bobák, H. Pikhart, James G. Wilson, A. Reiner, B. Keating, A. Hingorani, N. Sattar
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Claims (6)
HMG-CoA reductase inhibition with statins modestly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals with pre-existing insulin resistance.
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.
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.
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.
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.