People taking statins should exercise more to cut their risk of developing diabetes, according to a new study.
The research, part-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found that statins could cause small increases in weight and blood sugar, raising the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers from University College London and the University of Glasgow analysed nearly 130,000 patient records and found that those taking the drugs gained about half a pound in weight over four years and had a 12 per cent increase in the risk of developing the disease.
Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: “Many patients eligible for statin treatment would also benefit from lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity, eating more healthily