A Spanish study found that men with lower testosterone levels had a greater incidence of type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance. All of the study’s participants had testosterone levels in the normal range for their ages (36 to 85), but those on the lower end of the normal range were more likely to have diabetes or be pre-diabetic. The participants with testosterone levels in the lowest quartile were 2.5 times more likely to be insulin resistant than those with hormone levels in the top quarter.
Researchers suggested that regardless of common factors that contribute to diabetes such as age and high body mass index, men with low testosterone levels have increased risk of diabetes and glucose intolerance, meaning that even young men with ideal body composition and low anabolic hormone levels are at greater risk. This is significant because it indicates a direct role of testosterone in male health and insulin sensitivity, rather than as a multidirectional factor with fat and muscle mass composition.
A research review in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism confirmed the link between low testosterone and the risk of diabetes, highlighting the connection between poor health, increased visceral fat, and low testosterone. Testosterone therapy in men with abnormally low levels is consistently linked with ideal changes in body composition, muscle mass and bone.
To naturally raise your testosterone levels, make sure you perform large muscle group exercises (squats, deadlifts, power cleans, etc.) at the beginning of your workout, and use short rest intervals of less than a minute. Circuit training or supersets may be a good choice depending on your goals. Heavy resistance above 85 percent of your 1RM is also recommended with a moderate to high volume of exercise. Read more about boosting your testosterone with
Testosterone Boosters—How I Help My Clients the Legal Way.
Menéndez, E., Valdés, S., Botas, P., Delgado, E., Abello, N. Glucose Tolerance and Plasma Testosterone Concentrations in Men. Endocrinology and Nutrition. 2011. 58(1), 3-8.
Grossmann, Mathis. Low Testosterone in Men with Type 2 Diabetes: Significance and Treatment. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011, June 6. Published Ahead of Print.
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