Is There an Increased Risk of Type II Diabetes For Mississippi Consumers of Lipitor?

Studies have uncovered a connection between Lipitor and Type 2 diabetes. Lipitor is a member of a class of drugs that is called “statins.” These drugs prevent the liver from creating an enzyme that helps the body produce cholesterol. Patients are put on this drug to combat the levels of what’s known as “bad cholesterol” (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).

How does Type 2 diabetes develop? Food is broken into sugars in the body. The resulting glucose goes through the blood stream. In healthy patients, the pancreas releases insulin in order to reduce blood sugar levels. This allows glucose to enter the body’s cells to give them energy. In Type 2 diabetes, insulin is not used efficiently or is not produced. Glucose builds in the blood spiking the sugar levels. This can lead to organ damage and heart attack and the need for limb amputation. In fact, diabetes can get worse and worse over time.

Although statins are prescribed in order to prevent adverse cardiovascular events, diabetes actually increases the risk of these problems. Diabetic adults are 2-4 times more likely to have heart disease or stroke than other adults are.

How does Lipitor affect this process? Researchers believe Lipitor may inhibit the function of pancreatic cells and decrease the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Those on high-doses of Lipitor and “statins”-drugs that lower cholesterol-are also at risk. About a decade ago, published research found that high doses of Lipitor were associated with worse glycemic control for patients. Statins had already been associated with a risk of diabetes, but this study looked at Lipitor specifically.

Another study based on three clinical trials involving 4000 adults with no diabetes but a history of stroke had results that suggested even women of a health body mass (below 30) are at risk from diabetes as a result of statin use. The British Medical Journal found that the highest risk of developing diabetes among statin-users was for those using Lipitor.

In 2012, the FDA warned patients that those who use Lipitor and statins face an increased risk of developing high blood sugar levels and Type 2 diabetes. It announced changes would be made to labeling to reflect this new information. Accordingly doctors are required to assess blood sugar levels after starting a patient on Lipitor or any other statin.

Did Pfizer (the manufacturer) know about this link and fail to warn? It appears that Pfizer had access to the same clinical data as the FDA and ignored the studies and reports regarding the link between diabetes and Lipitor. No warnings were provided to consumers regarding this link. Had consumers been appropriate warned, they could have avoided the risk of diabetes by opting not to take Lipitor or by regularly checking their blood glucose levels.

Symptoms of diabetes can include frequent urination, numbness, unusual thirst, weight loss, frequent infections, slow healing cuts and blurred vision. If you develop diabetes in connection with using Lipitor and suffer actual damages as a result, you may bring a product liability suit against a manufacturer for failure to warn in Mississippi. Those who have lost a loved one who was using Lipitor, subsequently developed diabetes and died from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack may have a wrongful death claim. Lawsuits have been pending for approximately 2 years. The knowledgeable Mississippi product liability attorneys of Coxwell & Associates may be able to help if you have been injured by Lipitor.

More Blog Posts