It is well established that diabetes substantially increases the incidence of cardiovascular events. The management of glucose control has significantly improved with the introduction of novel pharmaceutical agents and the mode of administrating insulin. However, apart from glucose control, it is imperative to effectively manage the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recently published study evaluated the effect of statins in the progression of atheromatosis. Patients were studied with the use of intravascular ultrasound, a relatively new invasive diagnostic procedure, which identifies the components of coronary arterial wall.

The use of statins was clearly documented to be associated not only with stabilization of atheromatic plaque, but also with regression. This effect was noted in all patients, but it was more pronounced in diabetics. This finding reinforces the principal of initiating statins early in the course of diabetes, in order to minimize the risk of cardiovascular events.

References:

High-intensity statin therapy alters the natural history of diabetic coronary atherosclerosis

Stegman B, et al.

Diabetes Care, 09/12/2014 Clinical Article