Are you diabetic and your blood sugar is actually well controlled? Nevertheless, you may often feel physically exhausted, listless or suffer from insomnia. A testosterone deficiency could be the cause, because this is not uncommon in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Testosterone level for male diabetics
According to several clinical studies, male diabetics have, on average, lower testosterone levels than non-diabetics. This increases the probability of the occurrence of testosterone deficiency symptoms, which, according to study data, can affect around 40% of male type 2 diabetics.
On the other hand, hypogonadal patients, i.e. men with a proven testosterone deficiency, also have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future than men with normal hormone levels.
Causes of testosterone and diabetes
The causes of this two-sided connection between testosterone deficiency and diabetes have not yet been conclusively researched. However, one reason seems to be the increase in fatty tissue, especially in the abdomen. The reason for this is that a large proportion of type 2 diabetics are also overweight.
The increase in abdominal circumference is not only an aesthetic problem. The fatty tissue also produces certain hormones. Among other things, these have an inhibiting effect on the hypothalamus, the superordinate control organ for testosterone production. The resulting lower testosterone levels, in turn, can lead to a further increase in abdominal fat. The process described starts all over again and is reinforced at the same time.
In addition, the abdominal fat releases substances that promote inflammation which use various biochemical processes to ensure that the body cells respond less to insulin. The so-called “insulin resistance” prevents the absorption of sugar molecules from the blood into the cells and thus causes the blood sugar levels to rise. It is therefore regarded as a fundamental disease mechanism in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Is low testosterone really a problem in men with type 2 diabetes?
Yes, because apart from the increase in abdominal fat mentioned, there are other negative effects on health especially on the metabolism and on general well-being. These can then also manifest themselves in type 2 diabetics in the well-known symptoms and signs of a testosterone deficiency.
Medical guidelines from various professional societies recommend testosterone determination in men with type 2 diabetes. This determination could be worthwhile, because once recognized, you can treat this deficiency with testosterone enanthate (testosteron enantat). In addition, you can avoid possible secondary diseases that can affect your health.
