The Relationship Between Testosterone and Type II Diabetes

March 8, 2021

In what is called the largest study on testosterone treatment ever carried out, scientists found that regular injections of testosterone appeared to lower the risk of developing Type II diabetes, prevent its progression, and even reverses early Type II diabetes.

Around 1/3 of men who have Type II diabetes also have hypogonadism, meaning the body does not produce enough testosterone. Because of this, scientists began to explore how testosterone therapy can reduce the risk, and the results were promising.

The study:

Named T4DM (short for Testosterone for the prevention of Diabetes Mellitus), was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-year study, with over 1,000 participants. The participants were men 50-74 years old, classified as either overweight or obese with a waist circumference of 95 cm (or 37.4 inches) or larger, who had labs showing low testosterone, and who had either either impaired glucose tolerance or newly diagnosed Type II Diabetes. Every 3 months for 2 years, the men either received a placebo injection or testosterone at 1000 mg. Both groups were given nutritional services and instruction for regular exercise.

The results:

At the conclusion of the study, the results spoke loud and clear. After 2 years, 21% of men in the placebo group had Type II diabetes, while only 12% of men in the group receiving the testosterone injections had the disease. The testosterone group also exhibited a greater decrease in fasting blood sugar levels, improvements in sexual function and an increase in muscle mass. While proper nutrition and exercise showed to be incredibly valuable in the prevention and risk reduction in Type II diabetes, testosterone management proved to provide even more support against the disease, decreasing risk of the disease by 41%.

Professor Gary Wittert, who led the study, stated “Treatment with testosterone might be an option for some men, but all men need a thorough physical and mental health assessment, and support to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Austin Urology Institute offers both extensive services for individualized testosterone treatment, and nutrition services to aid in support for both testosterone production and decreased affects of Type II diabetes. For more information, schedule a consult with one of our providers.