Does Low Testosterone Influence Type 2 Diabetes?
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
Also, it has been discovered that men experiencing chronic health conditions have a higher risk of lowered testosterone levels, as do roughly one-third of all men 45 years of age or more.
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!
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 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.
Unfortunately, it is not often that doctors perform the necessary glucose tolerance test and measure one's insulin levels. If a man does not show the optimal level of glucose in circulation, he might be at risk of having metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes, and could even have a resistance to insulin. A higher blood sugar level indicates that hemoglobin is joined to one's glucose molecules and this results in the formation of glycosylated hemoglobin, also termed glycated hemoglobin A1c (written as HbA1c). When these levels go over six percent, it is likely that one's blood sugar will remain high for a long time, and this points to a riskier state of health regarding diabetes and its associated symptoms.
As long as a man with adult-onset diabetes administers self-care with the aid of dietary restrictions and medications, he can gain positively from testosterone replacement therapy. Improving one's HbA1c levels is definitely possible and those that are diabetic may once again live without the usual mandatory hypoglycemic medications. Some men must take insulin to control their blood sugar levels, but even this requirement can be reduced once testosterone therapy becomes effective, allowing one to cut their insulin intake by up to half as much. Other benefits include a better workout, less excessive weight around the waistline, and a more energized demeanor overall.
In essence, reducing a man's dependence on diabetic medications may be as easy as restoring his once-youthful amount of testosterone in the body. If he does not suffer from diabetes, this could prove to be an important preventive measure to ensure that he does not develop the disease; there have been medical studies that show other benefits as well, including the stabilization of blood sugar, a greater stamina, better libido well-being and the ability to recover quickly and efficiently from wounds. Men might also notice a younger and more vigorous appearance that can also be achieved with testosterone replacement therapy.