Increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes

It's possible that your blood sugar, known as blood glucose, may increase when you take a statin. This may lead to type 2 diabetes. The risk is small but important enough that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on statin labels about blood glucose levels and diabetes.

The increase in blood sugar is small. And it does not cause concern unless it occurs when blood sugar levels are already high. People with prediabetes or diabetes may be more aware that their blood sugar levels rise when they start taking a statin.

But statins also prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes. The benefit of taking statins likely outweighs the small risk to have the blood sugar level go up. Talk to your healthcare team if you have concerns.