Testosterone Replacement Therapy May Benefit Men with Type 2 Diabetes

By Brad Palubicki,

I hope that you will find this blog helpful and informative. Make sure to follow me on Twitter (@Brad_Palubicki) and connect with me on Xing and Viadeo.

In this blog I’ve already discussed how testosterone deficiency (Low-T) often leads to a number of serious health complications, including significant weight gain and diabetes.

Studies show that men with Low-T often have an increased resistance to insulin, an important hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in our blood. Such resistance puts additional strain on the pancreas, which is responsible for insulin production. Eventually, the pancreas becomes unable to meet the increasing demands and produce enough insulin to regulate the blood sugar. And that, in turn, leads to the development of type 2 diabetes.

A recent study by the University at Buffalo found that testosterone may be key to increasing insulin sensitivity and helping men lose extra weight. The study observed more than 2,000 men and found that over 30% of those with type 2 diabetes suffered from low testosterone levels.

For their study, researchers selected 94 men all of whom had type 2 diabetes. The men were divided in two groups, with one group receiving real testosterone treatment and the other getting a placebo.

Prior to receiving treatment, men with Low-T exhibited low insulin sensitivity and had fewer insulin-signaling genes. However, after receiving testosterone injections weekly for 24 weeks, the participants showed a significant increase in their insulin sensitivity and insulin-signaling genes. As a result, men who underwent testosterone treatment were able to naturally regulate their blood sugar much more efficiently than those who received a placebo.

Moreover, during the course of the study, men who received testosterone lost an average of six and a half pounds of body fat and increased their muscle mass by the same amount.

This important research provides yet another example of the effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy in treating a variety of health conditions.

As always, make sure to consult a qualified physician to help determine if testosterone therapy is right for you.