I was diagnosed as having diabetes and high cholesterol in November. I was placed on lovanstatin?

and told that I would always have to be on medication for my cholesterol because of my diabetes. Well, it has started causing extreme cramping and muscle tightness in my back and abdominal. I can't do yoga anymore, I have trouble walking and working out because my calves are cramping. Basically the only time I am not in pain is when I am huddled under all the blankets in the house watching TV. I am not willing to live my life this way, so I have stopped taking it. The question is - anyone else in this boat? Anyone with diabetes who has lowered your blood sugar naturally? How?

This is a common side effect of lovastatin. Talk to your doctor about switching to a different cholesterol medication. There are other drugs in the same class as lovastatin that might help. If they still give you this side effect, you can try drugs that are completely different like Zetia or Lopid. If your cholesterol and blood sugar are only only a little high, you can control them with diet but that will only work so far. If they get too high, there is no other way to treat them except with drugs.
Talk to your doctor and let him know about the side effects and see if he can deal with it.

You can find some good information and home remedies at this website http://ailments.in/diabetes.html

Here's a little different take on the subject of diabetes, and I hope it helps--

There are many things you can do to overcome type II diabetes, and improve life as a Type I diabetic. I've been researching alternative medicine, and the amount of help that's available to diabetics is amazing.

Natural remedies are quite effective, and include:

Cinnamon
Bitter Melon
Gymnema Sylvestre
Nopal cactus
American Ginseng
Fenugreek
Chromium picolinate

Cinnamon regulates glucose, and has a polyphenol compound called MHCP that mimics insulin and activates cell receptor sites. Everything on the above list has a use in fighting diabetes. If you are serious about learning how to use these herbs and not falling victim to diabetes needlessly, I suggest getting a copy of--

"One Son's Quest for the Cause and Cure of Diabetes", ISBN 7890766313

The author, a doctor, lost his mother to diabetes and spent the next 20 years finding a way to overcome it. My brother was dying of diabetes, and I was just starting to need insulin when we came across this definitive work which was first availale in February 2005. We both lead mostly normal lives now. It's a life saver, and the best money you'll ever spend on the subject.
You might want to check Abe Books, Alibri's, or Amazon.com for a good used copy cheap. I bought mine new, and I think it was about $35. I don't get any money from anybody for telling you this--just want to help, and the techniques in this book is what made the difference for me and mine. Best of luck.

Cholesterol is hig fat, not sugar, Go back to your doctor and ask for another drug that isn't a statin. There are lots out there, and some are even cheaper than what you are taking now.

You are getting the blood sugar and cholesterol confused. The lovanstatin will not affect your blood sugar levels, just your cholesterol. There are other statins (I'm on simvastatin) so go back to your doctor and get another tablet, don't leave your cholesterol untreated. Blood sugar control as you will know can be helped enormously by right diet (look at GI Diet) and daily exercise (difficult when you have legs which are cramping!) and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon twice daily.
I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic last July and was on blood glucose control meds. Diet and exercise has got me off the drugs and I'm controlling with diet alone now.
Take a look at the link below. Its a site by a diabetic filled with useful tips FOR diabetics. Its well worth a look, it certainly helped me;

For your cholesterol, you should try to control it with natural remedy which is very effective in lowering cholesterol before trying any anti-cholesterol medication. try to cleanse your body with natural remedy like almond, oatmeal in which the soluble fiber does a great job to remove the cholesterol to your stool and out of your body. For a list of top natural remedy for high cholesterol, check out http://www.cureshare.com/view_condition....