Abstract
Worldwide statins are considered to be the first-line pharmacological treatment for
dyslipidemia and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. However, recently various
studies have shown its adverse effect on glucose control among diabetic patients and
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have revised statin drug labels to include information
that increases in fasting serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels have been reported.
This systematic review objective is to evaluate the risks and benefits of statins
in glucose control management of type 2 diabetes patients based on the 44 published
journal articles included and obtained through MEDLINE full text, PubMed, Science
Direct, Pro Quest, SAGE, Taylor and Francis Online, Google Scholar, High Wire, and
Elsevier Clinical Key. Statins were found to affect glucose control through several
ways, namely, by affecting insulin production and secretion by β-pancreatic cells,
insulin resistance, insulin uptake by the muscles and adipocytes and production of
adipokines. Current evidence available shows that most of the statins give unfavorable
side effects with regards to glucose control among diabetic patients. A dose-dependent
and time-dependent effect was also observed in some statins which may be present among
other statins as well.
Keywords
statins - glucose control - diabetes - hypercholesterolemia - insulin secretion -
insulin sensitivity - insulin resistance
