Diabetes

[Leanne2]

I read a medical article that said that low testosterone levels can cause diabetes in men. Why aren't women, who have low T levels, susceptible to being diabetic? Does estrogen prevent this? How do transgender women deal with this problem? Leanne

[Michelle James]

I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes about 2 years ago. I also have very low T. I have heard this both ways. Kind of like the chicken and the egg question. If there is new info I would very much like to read it. Could you post the link.

[Kate T]

Hmm, I also read an article that linked cancer to breathing oxygen. :p

Depends on the article, who wrote it and how well it was done. There are LOTS of confounding factors. Low T is typically associated with an ageing process. The incidence of diabetes also increases with age. Older men (particularly middle aged) are more likely to be overweight. Overweight individuals are more likely to have impaired hormonal function of both T production and insulin resistance. Blah Blah Blah.

Progesterone is a strong cortisol inducer and cortisol causes insulin resistance thus diabetes. It is possible Testosterone and Estrogen may have marginal effects on insulin metabolism however they are likely to be massively overwhelmed by the known risk factors of weight, diet glysaemic index and genetics.

[Melody Moore]

I read a medical article that said that low testosterone levels can cause diabetes in men.
Hi Leanne it really would be better if you posted a link to the article in question.

[sandra-leigh]

I haven't seen that article.

I am, though, happy to say that I got my glucose test results back earlier today, and I am definitely not diabetic; my insulin works confortably better than average according to the measurements.

[ReineD]

I found an article that discusses the study in detail, re men are twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes as women:

http://diabetes.webmd.com/diabetes-men

This article suggests why this is:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1199158/Middle-aged-men-twice-likely-suffer-Type-2-diabetes-women-lifestyle.html


The study found that overall, men aged 35 to 54 are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as women.

Its report also revealed that cases of diabetes have risen four times faster in men aged 35 to 44 over the last 12 years compared with women of the same age.

Over that time, men have consistently been more overweight than women, which is fuelling their higher rates of Type 2 diabetes.

This type is linked to unhealthy lifestyles, including a lack of exercise and obesity, and accounts for around nine out of 10 cases of the disease.

My mother was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in her early 60s. She also was overweight and did not exercise.

[KellyJameson]

I have been prediabetic since early childhood but with a low carb diet, exercise and proper BMI I have avoided the disease and I also have always had low serum testosterone but my mitochondrial function has not been damaged. No other health problems unless gender dysphoria is considered a problem.

Here is one of many links on the subject. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/7/1636.full

[Leanne2]

Thank you Reine and Kelly for posting the links. I don't know how to do that but you saved the day. And thanks to everyone for all of their comments. Leanne