Statins are meant to treat high cholesterol issues (dyslipidaemia). Cholesterol problems are usually multifactorial and can be related to genetic factors and other lifestyle-related issues such as indiscretion with diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
In patients with diabetes, even stricter cholesterol control is important as poorly controlled cholesterol coupled with diabetes greatly increases the risk of a cardiovascular event, e.g heart attacks or strokes.
We aim to keep cholesterol control optimal for diabetic patients and the decision to start, continue or stop taking statins is dependent on the control of the cholesterol levels and other contributory factors that cause cholesterol in the patient.
Generally, statins are taken long term, and sometimes for life as patients need them to control their cholesterol levels, once they are off statins, the cholesterol levels tend to rise again.
However, I have also encountered successful cases that manage to go off statins whereby their cholesterol is more lifestyle-related, and after they change their lifestyle, lose weight and exercise more, they manage to be able to be weaned off statins.
