What Your Doctor Is Reading
What your doctor is reading is a regular feature that reviews current information about medications from medical journals often read by physicians.
Young men (ages 18 to 35) with type 2 diabetes have low levels of testosterone, which can increase their risk of infertility, heart disease and other health problems, according to researchers.
Along with decreased libido and erectile dysfunction, low testosterone can also cause bone loss, loss of muscle tissue, and weight gain. The combination of bone loss, muscle loss, and weight gain in men with diabetes and low testosterone leads to greater insulin resistance, possibly making it more difficult to treat the diabetes.
The researchers recommend treatment with testosterone. Testosterone can be given by injection, but products applied directly to the skin or to the inside of the cheek are more widely prescribed, including:
Source:
Chandel A, et al. "Testosterone concentrations in young patients with diabetes mellitus." Diabetes Care August 2008.
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