Low testosterone is an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes in men, new research shows.
In a clinical oral session on Men’s Health at ESA-SRB 2015 lead author Jason Tan from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide said men aged less than fifty years with very low testosterone (<8.0 mmol/L) and a waist circumference of more than 98cm were at a particular high risk.
This sub-group had an almost six times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and might benefit from targeted screening for testosterone deficiency, he said.
They may also get the most benefit from testosterone replacement, he added.
The study involved over 2,000 men aged 35 to 80 years from Adelaide who participated in the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) Study.