A man’s risk of developing diabetes may rise as his testosterone levels drop with age, a new study suggests.
University of Edinburgh scientists have found that low testosterone levels are linked to a resistance to insulin -- the hormone that controls blood sugar levels – in a study of mice with significant implications for men.
The study is the first to show low levels of the male hormone in fat tissue promote the onset of Type 2 diabetes by activating genes linked to the disease as well as obesity.
"We know that men with low testosterone levels are more likely to become obese, and as a [result] develop diabetes,” said researcher Dr. Kerry McInnes, from the University of Edinburgh's Endocrinology Unit. “This study shows that low testosterone is a risk factor for diabetes no matter how much a person weighs.”
The findings may explain why older men are more at risk of developing diabetes, because testosterone levels fall as men age.
The Edinburgh team said the study, funded by Diabetes UK, could lead to the development of new treatments to reduce the risk of diabetes in men with lower levels of testosterone.