Diabetes and Niacin

Here's a drug that may make you red in the face in more ways than one. Niacin is a form of vitamin B that you will no doubt find in your multivitamin. However, it is also packed into pills at ultra-high doses (sometimes called nicotinic acid) for treating cholesterol problems. The good news is that niacin works wonders on all your blood fats, lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol.

But there's a potential catch or two, especially if you have diabetes. High doses of niacin have a common, and infamous, side effect: flushed skin and hot flashes. Some users say their skin tingles. The pills can cause gastrointestinal problems, too.

Taking niacin with meals and starting with slow doses may alleviate the tomato-face issue. However, when taken at drug-level doses, niacin has another side effect that would frustrate any diabetes patient: It may raise blood sugar. Since the object of treating diabetes is doing just the opposite, you may wonder why niacin is even worth mentioning. While many doctors won't prescribe niacin to diabetes patients, recent studies show that, when taken in small doses (no more than one or two grams), it doesn't seem to increase glucose levels.

Best bet: Ask your doctor whether small doses of niacin could improve your cholesterol and triglycerides. Worst idea: Self-treating with niacin supplements that are available over the counter. Too much niacin can cause liver problems, which your doctor may not notice or test for if unaware that you're taking high doses of the vitamin. What's more, if you're already taking a statin drug, adding niacin to the mix increases the risk for muscle problems.

Ezetimibe is a relatively new drug that can lower cholesterol. For more on this new medication, read on.

For more information on diabetes, and its effect on cholesterol and the heart, try the following links:

• Diabetes and Heart Disease explains the relationship between these two conditions.
• Diabetes Symptoms covers the diverse signs of the disease, from increased thirst and hunger to sudden weight loss.
• To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.
• For more information on cholesterol and its effect on your health, read How Cholesterol Works.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.