Ask the doctor: Is niacin okay for people with diabetes?

Ask the doctor

Is niacin okay for people with diabetes?

Published: August, 2006

Q. I have been taking niacin for several years, and it has helped keep my good and bad cholesterol in their healthy ranges. Now I have been diagnosed with diabetes, and my doctor forbids me from taking niacin any more. What's the reasoning behind this?

A. Niacin is one of the oldest drugs for treating cholesterol problems. Not only does it lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, but it is also the best medication for increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

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