Testosterone levels and type 2 diabetes in men: current knowledge and clinical implications

Anne M Beatrice, Deep Dutta, Manoj Kumar, Siddegowda Kumbenahalli Shivaprasad, Ankur Sinha, Sayantan Ray, Subhankar Chowdhury

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, Calcutta, India

Abstract: The relationship between testosterone and diabetes is an important issue, given the fact that diabetes is becoming a fast-growing epidemic, the morbidity associated with which is more disabling than the disease itself. Various studies have demonstrated the increasing prevalence of hypogonadism in diabetic subjects, but whether this is a cause or effect is still an area of active research. The past couple of decades have witnessed an increasing rate of testosterone prescriptions, even though the relationship between testosterone therapy and cardiovascular effects is still not conclusive. The studies done in this regard have shown conflicting results, and there is still a dearth of long-term, follow-up studies in this field. This paper reviews in brief the postulated mechanisms, observational studies, and interventional data regarding the adverse effects of testosterone therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus, stressing the cardiovascular risks.

Keywords: testosterone, hypogonadism, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular events, quality of life