Does Low Testosterone Influence Type 2 Diabetes?
Recently, there has been evidence linking low testosterone levels in men and the likelihood that they will develop Type 2 Diabetes; in fact, men with normal testosterone levels are less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes.
A report in the Journal of Diabetes Care, authored by scientific researchers, states that when men have low to normal testosterone levels they will have a higher tendency to develop diabetes than men with higher testosterone levels, regardless of their level of obesity. Dr. Elizabeth Selvin, a doctor from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, commented that research studies are increasingly showing lower testosterone levels could be an indicator of the future onset of diabetes; she also noted that men suffering from diabetes usually have low testosterone levels.
Hypogonadism is the medical term for low testosterone, and it is presumed to be an issue with roughly 13 million adult males in the US. As a man ages, he experiences certain health issues including less healthy function, lower libido, lower density of bodily and facial hair and weaker bone strength. The condition an also cause muscular wasting and above all, can lead to diabetes.
Over time, a man will experience a gradual reduction in the amount of testosterone, one of the primary male hormones known as androgens. It is commonly known that women experience hormonal declines upon becoming menopausal; men, too, have always had similar hormonal declines and this is known as Andropause. The incidence of those having lower than optimal levels of testosterone appears to be as much as one-third of all men aged 45 and above.
Every man with Type 2 Diabetes should inquire into his testosterone levels, for research has shown that about one-third of men having this condition are also affected by low testosterone.
A more recent study has also indicated that there is double the risk for more mature men of suffering from testosterone depletion if they are obese, have high blood pressure, or diabetes.
When a man suffers from persistent health conditions, he also is more prone to having lower than desired testosterone levels. This is apparent especially in those over the age of 45, where over one-third of men have been found to have low testosterone, according to researchers.
Prominent doctors as well as those without extensive medical knowledge have failed to see the overwhelmingly positive aspects of healthy testosterone levels in a man’s body. As a man ages, it is desirable for him to keep many of the characteristics of his youth, and using supplemental testosterone can be an easy and reasonably priced way to achieve that. Since it is also very safe,it could potentially bring competition to all the drug companies that currently produce medications that deal with the symptoms of aging. In other words, if testosterone supplementation increases in popularity, drug profits will suffer drastically!
It is a wise choice for any man over 35 to get his testosterone level checked and analyzed. Additionally, he should get his blood lipids, prostate antigen and glucose levels tested. Once he has this information he can determine what his current state of health is, and if testosterone replacement would be a beneficial treatment for him.
When analyzing an individual’s testosterone levels based on lab results, one must use the exact number assigned to one’s total testosterone which can range from 251 to 1000 ng/dL. Just as critical is the amount of bioavailable, or usable testosterone circulating in the body.
Hopefully more physicians will begin to test for glucose tolerance and also measure the level of insulin that coincides with it, as these factors are often overlooked by medical professionals. When the level of glucose tolerance is no longer at its best, a condition called metabolic syndrome can occur. In addition, one is at risk for pre-diabetes and an inability to withstand insulin. Glycated hemoglobin appears within red blood cells when glucose molecularly attaches to hemoglobin upon the rise of one’s blood sugar. This form of hemoglobin, also known as glycosylated hemoglobin, takes the scientific acronym of HbA1c. One can expect to endure complications of a diabetic nature once HbA1c levels go above six percent, and this is a factor that suggests a rise in blood sugar over a longer period of time.
It is suggested that male diabetics, those with an adult-onset condition, can gain positive results from reversing low testosterone using hormone replacement therapy; in fact the results are even greater when those who start supplementing testosterone have already been treating their symptoms with a nutritional diet and suggested medications. After some time, a number of men have been able to reduce or eliminate their need for hypoglycemic medications as well as notice a healthier level of HbA1c. Testosterone supplementation can even cut the need for insulin in half for some men that must rely on insulin to treat their condition. Other benefits include a slimmer waist and profile, more vigorous and rewarding exercise routines, as well as an overall greater sense of well being.
Regaining the level of testosterone present in one’s youth can have great positive effects on a man’s life. Not only can it reduce the risk of developing diabetes, but it can also aid those who are already diabetic by lowering their need for medications. With an optimal level of testosterone, a man can look forward to once again looking young and energetic. As a result of clinical studies, it is shown that he can also benefit with an improvement of his blood sugar levels, libido ability and function, and ability to recover from wounds.
