Testosterone Levels Frequently Low in Type 2 Diabetic Men
If the increased risks for heart disease, cognitive decline, vision loss, kidney damage, peripheral nerve damage, and limb amputation haven’t provided enough incentive to take the nutritional and lifestyle steps to avoid developing type 2 diabetes, a recent paper published in the journal Diabetes Care may get your attention.
In the study, which included 355 men over the age of 30 with diabetes, researchers found that 42% of the men were deficient in testosterone. Specifically, 17% had low testosterone (hypogonadism), while another 25% had borderline low testosterone.
Additionally, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were negatively correlated with testosterone levels in this group of diabetic men, with the latter having the strongest association. Spare tire holders beware.
(Not So Good) Symptoms
Common symptoms of low testosterone in males include a decreased sex drive, reduced strength of erections, fatigue, reduced physical strength, inability to concentrate, and mood changes. Researchers for this study noted that the two most frequently observed symptoms were erectile dysfunction (70%) and decreased sex drive (63%).
What You Can Do
The scientists note that for some type 2 diabetics testosterone therapy (injections) may improve symptoms, including:
- better regulation of blood sugar levels
- reduced insulin resistance
- improved cholesterol levels
For some people, such external administration of testosterone may be a reasonable stop-gap measure to help cope with the disease in the near-term. A subset of people may even benefit from long-term external testosterone sources.
However, I’d be reluctant to pursue testosterone supplementation as a first choice, as it really doesn’t address the potential underlying contributing factors, such as nutritional deficiencies/excesses, toxin exposure, and physical inactivity. If these problems are present, not only will potential sources of diabetes not be addressed, but these ongoing issues may also increase the risk for other chronic conditions, such as heart disease and cognitive decline.
You can read more about diabetes risk factors and what you can do about them here.
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(Image: Katja Zimmermann / Getty Images)
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