The Short Answer

Statins, among the most prescribed drugs in America, increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 38%, according to recent research. Rather than addressing what actually causes high cholesterol (usually chronic inflammation), statins manage only the symptom while introducing new health risks. Functional medicine protocols that target inflammation and root causes offer a safer alternative for most people.

Why statins increase diabetes risk

If your doctor has recommended a statin to lower cholesterol, you may not know that statins can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes. A 2019 study of close to 9,000 subjects in their mid-60s showed that statins raised the risk of diabetes by 38 percent. Participants also showed a higher risk for high blood sugar and insulin resistance, a precursor to pre-diabetes. It didn’t matter which brand of statin subjects took; overweight and obese individuals had an even higher risk.

Because high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and diabetes carry their own serious health consequences, including increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s, this research raises important questions about statin use for a condition that functional medicine often manages effectively.

Previous studies have similarly linked statins with increased type 2 diabetes risk, including a 2012 study showing female users had a 50 percent increased risk.

Statins are prescribed at record rates

Statins account for more than $20 billion annually in spending and are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in America. Approximately one in four Americans over 40 currently takes a statin, an 80 percent increase over the last 20 years.

Common statin side effects include muscle weakness and wasting, headaches, difficulty sleeping, and dizziness. Yet despite widespread use, statins don’t address what actually causes high cholesterol in most people.

The root cause: inflammation, not cholesterol itself

Statins lower cholesterol levels, but they don’t address the causes of high cholesterol or cholesterol imbalance. For most people, the underlying driver is chronic inflammation, not a cholesterol problem requiring drug intervention.

Cholesterol itself is essential and not inherently harmful. Your body uses cholesterol to repair arterial damage caused by inflammation. In fact, inflammation, not high cholesterol, is the primary driver of heart attacks and strokes.

Consider these findings:

• 75 percent of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels
• Older patients with low cholesterol experience higher mortality rates than those with higher cholesterol
• People in countries with higher average cholesterol than Americans have fewer heart attacks

Additionally, hypothyroidism, which affects over 20 million Americans, raises cholesterol. Since gluten triggers inflammation in many people, a gluten-free diet may naturally lower cholesterol without medication.

Using functional medicine to address cholesterol naturally

Functional medicine effectively lowers cholesterol by addressing root causes of imbalance rather than suppressing symptoms with risky drugs. A functional medicine protocol identifies and treats underlying inflammation through:

• Anti-inflammatory dietary changes
• Regular movement and exercise
• Targeted nutritional support
• Investigation of inflammation sources (hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, bacterial infections, blood sugar dysregulation, chronic infections)

High cholesterol is typically linked to excessive processed carbohydrates and sugars, not dietary fat. Sugar and processed carbs lower beneficial HDL cholesterol and raise harmful triglycerides, promoting the formation of small, dense LDL particles that accumulate as arterial plaque. This pattern increases risk not only for heart disease but also for insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. In most cases, sugar, not fat, is the primary culprit.

However, fat selection matters. Trans fats and hydrogenated oils promote dangerous cholesterol patterns, while omega-3 fats (found in fish and fish oils) and monounsaturated fats (olive oil, avocado) support healthy cholesterol profiles.

Understanding your cholesterol numbers

Your body depends on cholesterol to produce cell membranes, vitamin D, hormones, and support neurological function. A standard cholesterol test measures various lipoproteins, packages of fat and protein that transport cholesterol through your bloodstream.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is “good” cholesterol that helps remove arterial plaque and supports cardiovascular health.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is “bad” cholesterol that forms plaque, narrowing and stiffening arteries (atherosclerosis).

Triglycerides are dangerous when elevated and linked to heart disease and diabetes. They rise from excess sugar and processed carbohydrate consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, excess alcohol, and excess weight.

Lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a) combines LDL with apoprotein a. Elevated Lp(a) significantly increases heart disease risk.

When reviewing cholesterol results, focus on:

• Your HDL versus LDL ratio
• Triglyceride levels
• The ratio of triglycerides to HDL
• The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL

Inflammation is the real heart disease driver

Chronic inflammation is the primary link to cardiovascular disease. Multiple factors drive systemic inflammation: excessive sugar and processed carbohydrate intake, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, heavy alcohol use, chronic stress, leaky gut, autoimmune conditions, and chronic infections.

People with measurable systemic inflammation (indicated by elevated C-reactive protein or CRP) face significantly higher heart disease risk than those with high cholesterol alone. Notably, normal cholesterol does not protect those with elevated CRP.

By addressing high cholesterol through functional medicine protocols targeting inflammation, you avoid the metabolic risks and side effects associated with statin therapy.

Contact RedRiver Health and Wellness to work with a functional medicine doctor who can identify and treat the inflammation driving your cholesterol imbalance.