Role of Statins in New-onset Diabetes Mellitus: The Underlying Cause, Mechanisms Involved, and Strategies to Combat

Statins have transformed the treatment of cardiovascular diseases through primary and secondary prevention of events. Despite the success of statin's management of cardiovascular conditions, certain clinical trials, reviews, and meta-analysis point out that statins have the propensity to induce diabetes. The risk further increases with intensive statin therapy or in patients with diabetes. A proper mechanism for the induction of the diabetic condition has not yet been determined. The involvement of statin with beta cells in insulin secretion and peripheral cells in insulin resistance has been widely studied and established. The present review provides an update on the recent understanding of statin-induced diabetes. This covers the origin of statins, their development, possible mechanisms that explain the adverse effects in glucose homeostasis, and probable targets to remedy the condition.

Automated summary

Statins have revolutionized the treatment of cardiovascular diseases by preventing events, but there is a risk of inducing diabetes, particularly with intensive therapy or in patients already diabetic. The exact mechanism for statin-induced diabetes is still unknown, though research suggests involvement with insulin secretion and resistance.