the doc per sribes niacin and i am a diabetic will it do mor harm than good? how fast will it work .

Hi Harbin,

There was a study done back in 2002 looking at the use of extended-release niacin (Niaspan) in Type 2 diabetics.  The niaspan dose was relatively low doses (1,000 or 1,500 mg/day).  The study lasted 16 weeks and found HDL levels 19% at the 1,000 mg dose adn 24 percent at 1,500 mg.  Triglyceride levels also decreased.  However, 4 patients had to drop out of the study due to poor blood glucose control.  The use of Niaspan with diabetes is discouraged because high doses can worsen blood glucose control.

I recommend discussing your treatment plan with your physician.  It may be that you'll be monitoring your blood sugar levels more closely while using niacin and making adjustments to the dosage if need be.

You may also be interested in these two posts:

Tips on How to Raise Your HDL
Triglycerides: Why They Matter and How to Lower Them

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD

How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps