Lipitor, a statin drug commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, INCREASES risk of Type 2 diabetes

Many Americans continue to use statins because doctors prescribe them to prevent heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over half of U.S. adults (54.5 percent or 47 million) who could benefit from cholesterol medicine are currently using statin drugs like Pfizer’s Lipitor.

Unfortunately, many people with diabetes accept the recommendations of the American Heart Association (AHA) and their doctors who fill prescriptions for statins without examining or explaining their negative side effects.

Lipitor has dangerous side effects

Lipitor is one of the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. Several years ago, Lipitor was heavily criticized because of its potential risks.

Despite this, millions of Americans continue to take Lipitor without knowing anything about its potentially dangerous side effects.

Lipitor is supposed to work by blocking an enzyme in the liver, which then helps reduce cholesterol production. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already warned that Lipitor has a history of inducing higher blood sugar in some people.

This suggests that over time, statin drugs can significantly increase Type 2 diabetes risk.

Back in 2012, data revealed that taking Lipitor was actually one of the risk factors for diabetes. Many patients and studies have warned that the drug could raise blood sugar and cause Type 2 diabetes.

The side effects of Lipitor may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Digestive health issues
• The feeling of having pins and needles or an uncomfortable tingling or prickling in your body
• Headaches
• Joint pain
• Liver problems
• Memory loss
• Nausea
• A rash

Aside from side effects, Lipitor can also deplete your body of CoQ10, a naturally occurring enzyme. CoQ10 is important for cellular health and it may also have a crucial role in heart health.

Unfortunately, individuals with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other serious health conditions tend to have lower levels of CoQ10 than others. Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs drain your body of CoQ10, enhancing the drugs’ adverse effects and making the heart less resistant to problems.

What does this mean for Pfizer?

Though taking Pfizer’s Lipitor was confirmed as one of the risk factors for diabetes, the warning was too late for many people who developed diabetes since the drug was approved in 1996.

Throughout the years, multiple lawsuits were filed against Pfizer for not being upfront about the many dangers of Lipitor. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first instance of lawsuits against drug manufacturers releasing data from fraudulent research and falsely marketing their drugs as “safe.”

Despite reports about Lipitor’s many negative side effects, all the FDA did was require a warning label on the drug and doctors just monitor a patient’s blood sugar over time.

Diabetes is a serious health problem that can significantly reduce your quality of life and cause serious complications, like blindness and loss of limbs. Instead of taking statins, do your research and try looking for a natural solution to your health problems.

Natural ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally

If you have diabetes, you need to make positive lifestyle changes to manage and lower your blood sugar levels because this is key to preventing or delaying diabetes complications like eye, heart, kidney and nerve diseases.

Try the tips below to lower your blood sugar naturally and improve your overall health:

Manage your carb intake

Carbs can potentially make your blood sugars fluctuate.

Carb intake may vary per individual, but you can start by limiting carb intake to 200 to 245 grams (g) per day. This amounts to about one-half of your daily calories coming from carbs.

Next, make adjustments according to your blood glucose readings or as recommended by a dietitian.

Note that bread, pasta and potatoes are not the only sources of carbs. Other foods like dairy, sweets, fruits and vegetables also contain carbs.

Don’t eat large meals

You can monitor your carb intake by eating in moderation.

Instead of starting your day with a big breakfast, skipping lunch and having dinner, spread your meals and snacks throughout the day. Feed your body throughout the day to regulate your blood sugar levels and prevent highs and lows.

Consume more dietary fiber

Fiber can help stabilize your blood sugars. Additionally, fiber has a role in weight management and can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fiber-rich foods include beans, peas, raspberries and whole grains. Beans are also full of folate, which is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a complication often associated with diabetes.

Men need 30 to 38 g of fiber per day while women need 21 to 25 g per day.

Try to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight is one of the main causes of insulin resistance and it prevents insulin hormone from working properly.

You don’t need to have a drastic weight loss goal. If you have other conditions that make it difficult to engage in too much exercise, a weight loss goal of at least five pounds can still help improve your blood glucose readings. (Related: Exercising regularly is key to reversing Type 2 diabetes.)

Get enough quality sleep

Poor or limited sleep affects body chemistry, while getting more sleep can help improve blood sugar control.

According to a small 2015 study published in the journal Diabetologia, chronic lack of sleep may contribute to the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Findings showed that healthy study participants who slept only four hours for three nights in a row had higher levels of fatty acids in their blood, which reduced insulin’s ability to regulate blood sugar by as much as 23 percent.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, you need at least seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.

Watch the video below for tips on how to control diabetes.

This video is from the Digital Marketing Review channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Study finds that statins CAUSE Type 2 diabetes.

Reversing type 2 diabetes.

Cocoa found to prevent type-2 diabetes.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

MedicalNewsToday.com

EverydayHealth.com

Brighteon.com