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Diabetes and Androgen Deficiency Growing
in epidemic proportions, diabetes is fast becoming a health
condition with astronomical economic impact, never mind the
quality of life issues. Many of those
with age onset diabetes, first progressed to Metabolic
Syndrome, then to diabetes. An interesting,
yet under recognized co-morbid condition that many physicians
fail to investigate is the presence of testosterone deficiency,
also known as androgen deficiency. Thought to precede the
diabetes onset, testosterone deficiency combined with a
Metabolic Syndrome can hasten the progression. * It
is estimated that 1/3-1/2 of diabetic males are androgen
deficient. What does this mean? For those males that
still make insulin, albeit deficient, insulin resistance can be
improved with androgen supplementation in instances where it is
lacking. In addition, testosterone exhibits a protective effect
on the endothelial lining of blood vessels which often
progresses from inflammation that occurs in Metabolic Syndrome
or Diabetes. This has a anti-atherosclerotic protective
mechanism.
Role of endogenous androgen against insulin
resistance and athero- sclerosis in men with type 2 diabetes.
: Curr
Diabetes Rev. 2007 Feb;3(1):25-31
PMID: 18220653 (PubMed
ID Number) Type 2 diabetes-associated androgen
alteration in patients with erectile dysfunction.
Int
J Androl. 2007 Sep 18
PMID: 17877718 Testosterone deficiency and the
metabolic syndrome.
Aging
Male. 2007 Jun;10(2):53-6
PMID: 17558968 Testosterone supplementation in men
with type 2 diabetes, visceral obesity and partial androgen
deficiency.
Aging
Male. 2003 Mar;6(1):1-7
PMID: 12809074 * These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. |
