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Lipitor, Post Menopausal Women, and Type Two Diabetes

| Jul 26, 2013 | Drug and Medical Device Litigation, Lipitor

Medical studies have shown a potential connection between post-menopausal women with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or below who are taking the prescription medication Lipitor and who are then diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.

In a study in the Archive of Internal Medicine (now JAMA Internal Medicine) originally published on January 23, 2012, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) recruited 161,808 post menopausal women aged 50 to 79 years at 40 clinical centers across the United States from 1993 to 1998 with ongoing follow-up and data through 2005.  The study looked at whether there was an association between the use of statins and Diabetes Mellitus.  The study concluded: “Statin medication in post menopausal women is associated with an increased risk of DM”.  The study also reported a significantly increased risk of DM with women with a BMI below 30 as compared to women above 30.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.  You can calculate your BMI on a number of web sites.

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood glucose, commonly called blood sugar.  Glucose is vital to your health, because it is an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues.  It is also your brain’s main source of fuel. If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the reasons may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems.  Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body’s main source of fuel.  With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. Untreated, type 2 diabetes can be life threatening.  Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and for this reason the findings of increased DM in patients with a BMI under 30 is especially significant, because people with a BMI under 30 generally do not have other risk factors for the development of the disease.

In February 2012, the FDA announced it was requiring new diabetes warnings for Lipitor, which is a Pfizer product that has produced over 126 billion in sales since 1996.

We are currently investigating these cases for a number of women.  The Brandi Law Firm is nationally recognized for its long involvement in cases involving defects in drugs or devices.  If you or a loved one have taken Lipitor and been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, based on medical studies, there is a potential claim against the manufacturer.  If you would like more information, please contact the Brandi Law Firm by e-mail, visit our Lipitor lawsuit attorneys, or call 415-989-1800 or (800) 481-1615.

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