Learn How Testosterone and Diabetes Go Together
If you’re a man with type 2 diabetes, testosterone therapy could benefit you! Check out this article on how low testosterone and diabetes go hand in hand.
Men with low testosterone and diabetes make up almost 50 percent of the population. Type 2 diabetic men are even two times more likely to have low testosterone levels than those without diabetes. This analysis shows that there is a link between the two conditions.
Testosterone and diabetes have been studied by several people of authority and at different times. Some research isolates each of them while others refer to how one affects the other.
It’ll be great to know a little about type 2 diabetes to understand the relationship.
What Happens in Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes sufferers make up a greater percentage than those suffering from all the other types. The insulin produced in type 2 diabetics are not well used. A situation doctors refer to as insulin resistance.
The pancreas produces more insulin and has to stop when it can’t keep up the pace. The blood glucose levels increase as they couldn’t go into the cells.
In the US alone, approximately 27 million people have Type 2 diabetes. 86 million people, still in the US have their blood glucose level higher than is expected, but not yet diabetic. This condition is known as prediabetes and can later develop into type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Some of the symptoms of diabetes may not be obvious signs of diabetes initially. But accumulated signals can be strong warnings that you shouldn’t ignore. If any combinations of these symptoms below appear, make sure to talk to a health professional who can help with diagnosis.
- Increased thirst and frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores or recurring infections
- Dark skin patches (i.e., acanthosis nigricans)
- There is a loss of consciousness
- Itchy skin
- Erectile dysfunction
Glucose is the cell’s preferred energy source. Insufficiency or absence of glucose weakens the cell. Low glucose reaching the brain can lead to dizziness.
Glucose accumulation in the bloodstream causes water absorption from the cells nearby. With insufficient insulin to drive glucose into the surrounding cells, energy is depleted in the cells, leaving you intensely hungry.
If your system doesn’t metabolize glucose, it’ll resolve to use alternative sources of fuels in your fats and muscle. Low glucose levels in your cells would leave you tired and irritated. Low glucose sensitivity also signifies low testosterone level.
Effect of Low Testosterone
Ahmer Farooq, a professor of Urology at Loyola University Medical Center, stated that low testosterone levels go hand in hand with insulin resistance or lowered sensitivity.
Now, what signs show that you might have low testosterone?
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
- Reduced sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- There is loss of muscle mass
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Reduction in bone mass and osteoporosis
- Increased belly fat
- Anxiety
Low testosterone and diabetes symptoms share some similarities. These commonalities include erectile dysfunction and fatigue.
Effect of Lifestyle on Low Testosterone and Diabetes
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published a study in 2011 on this result. The study showed that changing certain aspects of one’s lifestyle, such as constant exercise, would increase the testosterone levels and improve the health of overweight who have type 2 diabetes and low testosterone.
In 2013 the journal, hormone and metabolic research showed that when overweight men ate fewer calories each day, their testosterone levels increased notably.
Why Consider Testosterone Replacement Therapy
According to BioMed Research International, low testosterone might be used to predict the likelihood of a man to develop insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes in the future. In the study, 44 percent of participants had both low testosterone and diabetes compared to 33 percent who had only low testosterone and not diabetes.
Hypothetically testosterone may have an anti-inflammatory effect and also sensitize the production of insulin. This statement is based the fact that testosterone improves skeletal muscle and causes a reduction in adiposity.
Although testosterone did not alter the men’s weight, it reduced their fat and increased their muscle mass by the same mass lost in fat. Insulin sensitivity increased with a 32 percent increase in glucose assimilation and an associated increase in genes responsible for the recognition of insulin.
Research on Testosterone Replacement Therapy
A study was recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine about the effect of TRT in diabetic men. They were grouped into two. One group got TRT, while the other got a placebo.
The erection, sexual desire, and orgasm of the men given testosterone improved within 30 weeks of the experiment weeks. They also reported more satisfaction in their sexual life. 46 percent of this group also perceived an improvement in their health compared with 17 percent of those who used a placebo.
The researchers extended the study by about a year, and more men volunteered. This time, 70 percent of the men reported improvement in their health.
However, men who had depression at the onset of the research, as well as those with obesity, did not get much improvement in their health. The researchers emphasized that men who had low testosterone and diabetes should screen for depression before undergoing treatment.
The European Journal of Endocrinology in 2014 showed that the treatment of newly diagnosed diabetics with insulin increased their testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement is likely to increase your insulin sensitivity. In this case, you may need to adjust your treatment plan
Can Everyone Enjoy Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Not everyone can benefit from this therapy. Some research has shown that TRT may trigger the growth of prostate cancer and breast cancer. Sleep apnea and infertility are also potential risk factors that can result from the therapy.
To Wrap It Up
The link between low testosterone and diabetes does not mean that a decreased testosterone level causes diabetes. It is possible that specific factors increase the risk of low testosterone and diabetes. After reading about the two conditions, you’ll notice some shared symptoms.
Having a check-up is the best thing to do when in doubt. You may find yourself a good candidtate for testosterone replacement therapy.
At Mantality Health, we have lots of testimonies from people who have benefited from this therapy. Contact us today to discover how you can benefit from the treatment!
