High-Dose Statins Like Pfizer Inc.'s Lipitor and Merck & Co., Inc.'s Zocor Raise Risk of Diabetes

Taking a high-dose statin to lower cholesterol may increase risk of developing diabetes by as much as 12 percent, but the heart benefits of statins still outweigh the risks, new research suggests. Statins such as Pfizer's Lipitor are the world's best-selling drugs. They work by lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the so-called "bad" cholesterol. Doctors say the new research made public on Tuesday should not prompt any patients to stop taking statins, but patients on high doses of statins should get screened regularly for diabetes.