Statins dose to lower the levels of cholesterol may increase diabetes risk by around 12 percent, stated a new research.

But doctors have suggested that people shouldn’t suddenly stop taking statins. Instead they should get regularly screened for diabetes risk.

Earlier also studies have been done to show that statins can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks but at the same time they may enhance the risk of diabetes.

“Overall, we found that high doses were associated with a 12 percent increased risk of diabetes compared with standard doses,” Professor Kausik Ray of St George’s said in an e-mail.

Statins play a very important role in preventing heart diseases and its benefits far outweigh its risk of increasing diabetes level.