Roles of testosterone in men with type 2 diabetes: A review

Abstract

Androgen deficiency has recently come to the forefront of the medical literature after being ignored for decades. The prevalence of hypogonadism is greater than previously thought. Important associations are being developed and confirmed in the literature between androgen deficiency and metabolic disorders, specially in type 2 diabetes [1]. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing on over the world and directly effects the quality of sexual life of men [2]. However, in men with type 2 diabetes, besides the effect of erectile improvement, testosterone replacement therapy also reduces insulin resistance and improves glycaemic control in hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes. Improvements in glycaemic control, insulin resistance, cholesterol and visceral adiposity together represent an overall reduction in cardiovascular risk. The objective of this paper is reviewing the roles of testosterone in men with type 2 diabetes.