Can Bad Health Be Caused By Low Testosterone Levels?
Having lower than normal levels of testosterone may indeed affect the likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes in men, as recent studies have shown that those with normal testosterone levels seem to have a lower incidence of Type 2 Diabetes.
In a report in Diabetes Care, a medical journal, researchers state that men having sub-normal levels of testosterone have a higher tendency to develop or have diabetes, and this is not necessarily affected by their level of obesity. Diabetic men usually have lower testosterone levels, and current evidence seems to point toward low testosterone as a health indicator for the development of diabetes as reported by Dr. Elizabeth Selvin from the Baltimore Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Hypogonadism, or the condition of lower than normal testosterone levels, is common in the US, affecting as many as 13 million men. As a man gets older, certain health conditions are usually unavoidable, including reduced libido function, lower libido, a reduction in the thickness and growth of face and body hair, and a reduction in bone strength and density. In addition, a man can experience the disintegration of his muscles and he might eventually develop diabetes.
Over the course of a man's adult life, his levels of testosterone, one of the most important male hormones also known as androgens, will be greatly diminished. Men experience something similar to a woman when going through menopause, and this is called Andropause. It is estimated that low testosterone levels can be found in as many as one-third of all men aged 45 and up.
Researchers have found that about one-third of all male Type 2 Diabetics are affected by low testosterone levels. Thus, any man suffering from Type 2 Diabetes has a higher chance of simultaneously having a lower than optimal testosterone level.
In fact, men that are older and are affected by obesity, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure could have two times the tendency to have lower than normal testosterone levels when compared with other men their age, as stated in a recent health study.
Research has also discovered that over one-third of all men over the age of 45 did have sub-normal testosterone levels, and that those who have chronic health conditions have a higher rate of having low testosterone.
Even the best doctors can be uninformed of the great benefits testosterone brings. As a man ages, testosterone can reduce the negative changes that occur, and using testosterone therapy is neither expensive nor unsafe. If testosterone therapy were to increase in popularity, one may find that the profits of drug companies will be reduced, as this therapy is so effective in treating maturing men!
Every man should examine his testosterone levels, especially upon reaching the age of 35. In addition, his blood lipid level and glucose level should be checked, as well as his antigen level in his prostate. These tests determine his overall state of health and can indicate whether he can benefit from the replacement of testosterone in his body.
When analyzing lab results for the total amount of testosterone, the entire number is looked at, as well as the measure of what amount is available for the body to use. One can keep the range of 251 to 1000 ng/dL as a reference in interpreting the results, and must also determine what amount is bioavailable.
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.
In essence, one can actually change the course of diabetes, and even reduce the need for diabetic medication over the course of one's life by changing the level of testosterone to that of a youthful person. Aging men can use testosterone therapy to gain more energy and once again feel that youthful vigor. Above that, medical records have proven to show an improvement with one's blood sugar level, libido health, and the ability to heal from wounds, resulting in better resilience for any man.