Cholesterol-lowering statins raise the risk of becoming diabetic, by approximately 9%. According to the new research cholesterol-lowering statins helps in preventing heart attacks. Medication is taken by around 2.5 million people in Britain every day. Wonder drugs can lessen the risk of suffering a blood clot.

But research had been unable to confirm whether or not taking statins raises the risk of developing diabetes. The team from Glasgow University's cardiovascular research centre tried to give more clarification. It wrapped up by saying that treating 255 people with statins over four years would result in one extra case of diabetes. Five of these people would probably have a heart attack if they don't take the statin treatment.

"We therefore suggest that clinical practice for statin therapy does not need to change for patients with moderate or high cardiovascular risk or existing cardiovascular disease. However, the potentially raised diabetes risk should be taken into account if statin therapy is considered for patients at low cardiovascular risk or patient groups, in which cardiovascular benefit has not been proven", mentioned Professor Naveed Satar and Dr. David Preiss, writing in the Lancet.