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In: Health & Fitness
21 May 2009Having 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.
An aging man will experience a decline in his levels of testosterone, which is a very important hormone, or androgen. This occurrence is known as Andropause and is similar to the menopausal phase encountered by aging women. It is estimated that over one-third of all men above the age of forty-five have lower than normal testosterone levels.
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.
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 one receives his lab results, the total amount of testosterone will be shown as measured between the range of 251 and 1000 ng/dL; in addition, his amount of circulating and thus bioavailable testosterone is also measured and can be examined.
Physicians do have a shortfall when it comes to the proper medical analysis of a man concerned with his health. This is apparent in that they do not often think of measuring one’s glucose tolerance and insulin levels. Metabolic syndrome can be indicated when one’s glucose tolerance is not at an optimal level, and this can also point to insulin resistance or even pre-diabetes as well. High levels of blood sugar trigger glucose, in its molecular form, to connect to hemoglobin. This forms the glycated form of hemoglobin, known as glycosylated hemoglobin, present in one’s red blood cells; the scientific term is hemoglobin A1c written as HbA1c. When HbA1c levels go over six percent in an individual, there is a condition of higher blood sugar levels that continues for a longer duration. This points to a greater risk of diabetes and its associated difficulties.
It has been proven that the utilization of testosterone to aid those who suffer from diabetes (adult-onset) can be very beneficial, especially if they are already actively improving their condition through proper diet and the use of medication. One can expect that through testosterone therapy a noticeable improvement of HbA1c levels can be achieved, which can lead to one no longer having to take oral hypoglycemic medication. Another benefit is the reduction in the need for insulin, by as much as one-half what was previously necessary. A man might find a renewed vigor for life, and notice a slimmer waistline and superior ability to exercise.
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.