Lipitor is a medication that is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. According to the drug patent watch website [1], the active ingredient in Lipitor is atorvastatin calcium, which belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme that is involved in the production of cholesterol in the liver. While Lipitor is generally considered safe, there is some evidence to suggest that it may cause hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism [2] found that treatment with atorvastatin was associated with a small but significant increase in fasting glucose levels in non-diabetic patients. The study involved 98 patients who were treated with atorvastatin for six months. The researchers found that the mean fasting glucose level increased from 89.2 mg/dL at baseline to 91.7 mg/dL at six months (p=0.02). The study concluded that atorvastatin treatment may cause a small but significant increase in fasting glucose levels in non-diabetic patients.

Another study published in Cardiovascular Diabetology [3] also found that atorvastatin treatment was associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes in non-diabetic patients. The study involved 8,749 patients who were followed for a median of 4.9 years. The researchers found that treatment with atorvastatin was associated with a 37% increased risk of developing diabetes (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.52, p<0.001). The study concluded that atorvastatin treatment may increase the risk of developing diabetes in non-diabetic patients.

In conclusion, while Lipitor is generally considered safe, there is some evidence to suggest that it may cause hyperglycemia in non-diabetic patients. Two studies have found that treatment with atorvastatin is associated with an increase in fasting glucose levels and an increased risk of developing diabetes in non-diabetic patients. Patients who are taking Lipitor should be monitored for changes in glucose levels and should discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LIPITOR
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19188844/
[3] https://cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12933-018-0799-4