Managing Diabetes

By David Bjerklie

Two out of three diabetics will die from heart disease or stroke, yet diabetics often go undertreated for these life-threatening complications. A pair of studies offered a strong argument last week against such neglect. Drugs called statins, such as Zocor and Lipitor, which are widely used to lower cholesterol levels, were found to significantly reduce strokes and heart attacks in diabetics. The need is growing: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 17 million Americans have diabetes, up 50% over the past decade. And it's only going to get worse; 1 in 3 children born in the U.S. will develop the disease, says the CDC. --By David Bjerklie