Impact of Statin Therapy on Diabetes Incidence: Implications for Primary Prevention

The present review aims to summarize current evidence, explore underlying mechanisms, and help guide clinicians regarding statin therapy and diabetes risk in primary prevention.

The observational and genetic epidemiology, as well as evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, illustrate a modest, dose-dependent increase in risk of diabetes from statin therapy.

Risk of new onset diabetes from statins appears to be greatest in those near the diagnostic threshold for diabetes or with diabetes risk factors prior to statin initiation. The risk of incident diabetes is vastly offset by the cardiovascular protection offered from statin therapy and should not deter guideline recommended statin initiation in primary prevention.