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One
Third of Type-Two Diabetics Suffer from Testosterone Deficiency
A
new study shows that young male patients with Type-Two Diabetes have
a significantly high risk of developing Testosterone Deficiency at an
early age. This study shows that around one in three patients between
the ages of 18 and 35 suffer from Clinically Low Levels of
Testosterone.
Diabetes-Testosterone
Study Information
The
primary investigator in this study was Dr. Paresh Dandona. He and his
associates performed their research at the New York State University
of Buffalo. This study compared 62 diabetic patients. 24 of the men
had been previously diagnosed with Type-Two Diabetes and 28 of the
participants were males with Type One Diabetes.
Blood
testing revealed that patients with Type-Two Diabetes had much lower
endogenous Testosterone Levels than the male patients with Type One
Diabetes. 33% of the subjects with Type-Two Diabetes were found to
have clinically low levels of Testosterone, and 58% of this group had
Testosterone levels which were abnormally low in comparison to
healthy patients. Type-One Diabetes patients did not suffer from this
clinical medical issue, however. Only 8% of Type-One Diabetics were
found to have Testosterone levels which were at all abnormal.
Testosterone
Deficiency Linked to FSH Deficiency and Luteinizing Hormone
Deficiency
Patients
in this study that were found to have low levels of Testosterone were
also shown to have medically low levels of Follicle-Stimulating
Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone. As a result of this, these patients
clinically suffered from a disorder known as Hypogonadotrophic
Hypogonadism. This disorder greatly enhances the risk of a number of
medical disorders if left untreated, including cardiovascular disease
and osteoporosis. Other symptoms of Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism
include infertility, impotence, and lack of libido.
Type-Two
Diabetics are High Risk Patients for Low Testosterone
In
the end, the researchers came to the conclusion that young patients
suffering from Type-Two Diabetes are an incredibly at-risk subset of
the population for suffering from Low-T, even in their twenties. Both
Free Testosterone levels and Total Testosterone levels are
significantly affected. As a result of this deficiency in combination
with deficiencies of Luteinizing Hormone and Follicle-Stimulating
Hormone, these patients are at a high risk of a number of
cardiovascular and sexual medical conditions and need to be treated
with Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy in order to minimize
health risks and help them live a healthier and more fertile life.
Facts
About Testosterone Deficiency
Testosterone
Deficiency is a very common symptom of both diabetes and obesity.
Around one third of males with Type-Two Diabetes will also suffer
from the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency as a result. The
clinical term for Low-T is known as Hypogonadism.
Symptoms
of Low-T
There
are a number of symptoms related to Low Testosterone. Among these
symptoms are:
Decreased
sex drive
Low Testosterone reduces sexual desire in males, leading to bedroom
dissatisfaction and contributing to rocky relationships
Depression
Testosterone plays a significant role in male mood stabilization.
Males who suffer from Hypogonadism are more likely to experience
feelings of sadness and depression that they are unable to shake.
Fatigue
and exhaustion
Testosterone is a vital component of male metabolism. Although Human
Growth Hormone directly causes enhanced metabolism, Low Testosterone
causes problems with muscle strength and cardiovascular stamina.
Bone
health deterioration Patients
who suffer with Low-T are at an increased risk of bone disorders such
as osteoporosis. Loss of Bone Mineral Density can even make you grow
shorter over time!
Reduced
strength
Testosterone is directly responsible for the differences in muscle
strength and muscle mass that separate males and females.
Testosterone has the ability to amplify the effects of weight
training and muscle building. Men who suffer from Low-Testosterone
lose their ability to generate and sustain additional muscle.
Decreased
erectile sensitivity
Healthy Testosterone Levels are necessary for men to experience
optimal pleasure in sexuality. Patients with Low-T often complain the
sex just doesn't feel like it used to, which puts a damper on sex
drive and libido.
Fertility
Testosterone is an important factor in the production of healthy
sperm. Individuals with low levels of Testosterone have lower sperm
counts than those who have healthy Testosterone levels. In addition
to this, normal Testosterone levels are vital for healthy and fully
functional sperm.
Smaller
testicles One
of the most obvious visible symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency is
testicular shrinkage. Without sufficient levels of Testosterone, the
Testicles are not as healthy or functional, and one of the ways in
which this can be seen is through testicular size and shape.
Reduced
sexual ability
Men with Low Testosterone even complain that their disorder prevents
them from even engaging in satisfying sexual activity. Testosterone
is a big part of what allows a man to get turned on, and when
Testosterone levels in the body are insufficient, the physiological
process which produces a firm, hard erection is hindered.
Increased
inflammation
Low Testosterone is correlated with increased levels of cortisol,
which is the human body's central agent of inflammation, which can
cause pain as well as slow the body's natural healing processes.
Low-T
Exacerbates Symptoms of Diabetes
Testosterone
Deficiency has been shown to make the symptoms of diabetes worse. In
addition to this, suffering from Low Testosterone while also dealing
with Diabetes can increase the risk of many heart complications such
as stroke, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol.
Dr.
Paresh Dandona and Dr. Sandeep Dhindsa have dedicated their careers
to the study of Diabetes and have found a number of critical links
between Type-Two Diabetes and Testosterone Deficiency.
Type-Two
Diabetes Hastens Declining Testosterone Levels
Testosterone
levels naturally decline over time beginning in the late twenties,
and this decline continues throughout the lifespan. In otherwise
healthy individuals, this decline occurs at a rate of between one or
two percent each year, similar to the rate at which Human Growth
Hormone levels decline. There are a number of medical conditions
which increase the rate at which Testosterone Decline occurs, and
there are other disorders which greatly reduce Testosterone Levels
very quickly.
Type-Two
Diabetes significantly depresses natural Testosterone levels, leading
to a number of life changing and potentially dangerous side-effects
as a result. Studies like the one we mentioned at the beginning of
this article have led endocrine scientists to the conclusion that
four out of every ten men who suffer from obesity will have
clinically low levels of Testosterone in comparison to males of the
same age that are not overweight. When diabetes is thrown into the
mix as well, the resulting difference is even more profound.
Low-Testosterone levels plague fifty percent of obese males
clinically diagnosed with diabetes.
Type-Two
Diabetics Suffer Primarily from Secondary Hypogonadism
One
may come to the conclusion that the primary correlation here would be
between weight and testosterone level, but this is not necessarily
the case. Although men that are both obese and diabetic are most at
risk of Low Testosterone Levels, there is ample evidence that
Type-Two Diabetes significantly reduces Testosterone Levels even in
patients who do not suffer from weight issues. This seems to suggest
that Type-Two Diabetes seriously inhibits the human body's ability to
produce Testosterone is a direct physiological way.
Type-Two
Diabetes Equivalent to Twenty Pounds of Fat
Dr.
Dhindsa, one of the primary investigators of the study discussed at
the beginning of this article, says that Diabetes has an effect on
Testosterone Levels that can be correlated with weight gain. He says
that those that suffer from Type-Two Diabetes experience a decline in
Testosterone levels that is the equivalent of gaining twenty pounds
of body fat.
Another
study produced by Dr. Dhindsa shows that endogenous Testosterone
production declines at a rapid and non-linear rate dependent upon
Body Mass Index. The more that an individual weighs, the more likely
they are going to suffer from an acute deficiency of Testosterone.
Largest
Testosterone-Diabetes Study Ever Conducted
Dr.
Dandona and Dr. Dhindsa have been responsible for the largest study
regarding Testosterone, Diabetes, and Obesity ever conducted. Before
these two doctors began their study, most research regarding
Testosterone Deficiency was only concerned with patients who suffered
from obesity, or patients who suffered from Diabetes. These two
doctors focused on how the two diseases interact and amplify the
symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency. In their largest study, they
utilized data from the 2003-2004 Hypogonadism in Males study. This
clinical study involved over 1800 males from 95 medical clinics. The
study was underwritten by the company Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
The
scientists recommend that males with diabetes and obesity keep a
close eye on their Testosterone Levels. Healthy Testosterone levels
are an important part of living a healthy life, and Low-Testosterone
can increase the dangers of both diabetes and obesity, while also
preventing patients from being able to successfully manage their
disease. Dr. Dhindsa's primary goal as a medical researcher is to
improve treatment options for male patients who suffer from
Hypogonadism and diabetes. Dr. Dandona is primarily interested in the
effects and causes of Low Testosterone in younger men who for all
intents and purposes should be participating in the most reproductive
period of their lives.
Questions
about Testosterone Deficiency
What
is Follicle-Stimulating Hormone?
Follicle-Stimulating
Hormone (often abbreviated FSH) is a member of a group of hormones
known as Gonadotrophins. Gonadotrophins are hormones which are
responsible for the stimulation of the sexual organs which are vital
for healthy sexual function. These hormones are derivatives of
Testosterone and Estrogen which promote the normal function of the
testes and the ovaries. FSH is both manufactured and secreted by the
pituitary.
In
females, FSH increases the formation of egg follicles while also
stimulating the ovulation process. In males, FSH primarily stimulates
a group of cells known as Sertoli cells. These cells are responsible
for the healthy development of sperm cells. Low Levels of FSH in
adults have no real negative consequences outside of fertility
issues, but monitoring FSH levels helps doctors identify the exact
source of Testosterone Deficiency. In young boys and girls
experiencing puberty, however, low levels of FSH can hinder the
proper development of the testes and ovaries, significantly affecting
the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
What
is Luteinizing Hormone?
Although
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone are both
Gonadotrophins, a deficiency of Luteinizing Hormone is much more
harmful to human physiology. Luteinizing hormone is sometimes
referred to as Lutropin. This hormone is produced by the pituitary
gland by formations known as Gonadotroph Cells. These cells are
located in the anterior portion of the pituitary.
In
women, Luteinizing Hormone is the base trigger mechanism for
ovulation. In males, the hormone is responsible for stimulating the
production of Testosterone by triggering the function of Leydig
cells. In males, a deficiency of Luteinizing hormone can contribute
to a number of negative symptoms, including Testosterone Deficiency
and the symptoms inherent with that Deficiency.
A
deficiency in Luteinizing Hormone during puberty can delay and limit
the natural changes that occur. A Testosterone Deficiency combined
with a deficiency of FSH and Luteinizing Hormone is known as
Idiopathic Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism.
What
is Hypogonadism?
Hypogonadism
is the blanket term for any disorder which prevents the human body
from optimally producing sex hormones such as Testosterone, Estrogen,
and Progesterone. Adult-onset Testosterone Deficiency is a form of
Hypogonadism which generally results from the slow and steady
decreased hormone production of the testes. Hypogonadism as a result
of Obesity and Type-Two Diabetes is the result of the conversion of
existing Testosterone into Estrogen and Cortisol as well as reduced
input from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
What
is Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism?
Hypogonadotrophic
Hypogonadism is a form of gonadal deficiency that is the result of an
insufficiency of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus. This range
of disorders is also referred to as Secondary Hypogonadism. Primary
Hypogonadism is the result of a hormonal deficiency of the sex
organs. Adult-onset, age related Testosterone Deficiency is generally
related to Primary Hypogonadism. Testosterone Deficiency resulting
from Type-Two Diabetes is mostly the result of Secondary
Hypogonadism, which is why the disorder is very powerful and not
related to normal testosterone decline as a result of aging.
There
are a few important steps to normal testicular function. The
hypothalamus releases a hormone known as Gonadotropin-Releasing
Hormone, abbreviated GnRH. GnRH then flows from the hypothalamus to
the anterior pituitary gland. After stimulation, the pituitary gland
secretes and releases the hormones FSH and Luteinizing Hormone. These
hormones then move through the blood stream down to the male and
female sex organs where they stimulate the normal production of sex
hormones such as Testosterone and Estrogen as well as other important
hormones which control sexual function. If there is a hormonal
imbalance at any point between the hypothalamus and the sex organs,
this has the potential to greatly alter normal hormone production
which can be detrimental to human health.
Although
there are some forms of extreme or total Hypogonadotrophic
Hypogonadism, Diabetes and obesity produce a moderate form of
Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism which causes a number of detrimental
symptoms which are very similar to Age-Related Testosterone
Deficiency as a result of Andropause. Most individuals will not
experience the negative effects of Testosterone Deficiency until
their thirties and forties, but patients who suffer from
Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism often experience hormonal issues from
birth. Many others, as is the case with those suffering from Type-Two
Diabetes, begin to experience the symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency
in their early twenties.
What
is the importance of these Testosterone Deficiency Studies?
Dr.
Dandona's research study sheds a significant amount of light on how
Testosterone Deficiency, Obesity, and Diabetes interact. The
pathology of Testosterone Deficiency in Type-Two Diabetes does not
seem to be related to an insufficiency of the testes, but to issues
resulting from hormonal balance resulting from the pituitary gland
and the hypothalamus. This causes symptoms of hormonal deficiency
which normally do not begin to occur until patients are in their
thirties and forties to appear while patients are in their twenties.
Fatigue
and exhaustion prevent patients from efficiently engaging in
exercise, and changes in muscular metabolism prevent them from
building muscle as a result of exercise. Low Testosterone also
encourages higher levels cortisol and estrogen, which are incredibly
detrimental to male patients and reduce cardiovascular health
significantly. Obesity complicates issues with Low Testosterone and
Type-Two Diabetes by increasing the rate at which Testosterone is
converted into estrogen by the fat cells. Adipose fat tissue
naturally has the ability to convert Testosterone into Estrogen and
Estrogen-related hormones. The more fat tissue present on the body,
the less of an impact endogenous Testosterone produces on the human
body.
Scientific
evidence shows that Type-Two Diabetes and Obesity are intricately
connected in a number of ways, although not all diabetics are obese
and not all obese individuals develop diabetes. Diabetes reduces the
effectiveness of insulin to process blood sugar which makes it harder
to maintain a healthy body weight and deteriorates physical health in
a numerous ways. Dr. Dandona's study shows that both obesity and
Type-Two Diabetes impact Testosterone negatively via their own unique
yet interconnected pathways.
Also,
the study shows that Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy can be
a highly beneficial treatment that alleviates some of the effects of
Diabetes while also improving metabolism, boosting energy levels, and
encouraging weight loss in order to help obese patients lose weight
and improve their BMI.
If
you suffer from Type-Two Diabetes we encourage you to monitor your
Testosterone Levels closely. Although you may be in control of your
insulin levels, you may be allowing Low Testosterone to decrease the
quality of your life in significant ways. To learn more about
Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, feel free to contact the
Conscious Evolution Institute with any questions you may have!
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