Initiating statin therapy in diabetics
For any patients with type 2 diabetes and age greater than 40 who are not on a statin, recommend starting a statin at moderate intensity, or at high intensity if at increased cardiovascular risk.
Clinical notes
Patients with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for ASCVD. Multiple trials demonstrate a benefit to statins in this population and this benefit does not depend on baseline LDL cholesterol levels. The overall benefit of statins is greater in those at higher ASCVD risk, but still convincing in people with diabetes at moderate or even low risk for ASCVD. ADA Standards of Care 2023 recommendation 10.18 states that for people with diabetes age 40-75 years without atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, use moderate-intensity statin therapy in addition to lifestyle therapy.
