Low Testosterone In Diabetic Male Patients Increases Their Risk Of Heart Problems

Men with low testosterone may often experience low sex drive and depleted muscle mass. Yet recent findings published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism show us that diabetic men with low testosterone are also at a higher risk for certain heart problems.

"Our study indicates a strong association between low testosterone concentration and the severity of atherosclerotic plaques as well as other key atherosclerotic markers in middle-aged men with Type 2 diabetes. The results of our study advance our understanding of the interplay between low testosterone and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes," said study author Javier Mauricio Farias, in a news release.

For the study, researchers at the Hospital Universitario Sanatorio Guemes in Argentina examined 115 men with type-2 diabetes who were less than 70 years old who had not dealt with cardiovascular issues at the beginning of the study.

Serum testosterone levels were then determined in the participants and compared to men with normal levels of testosterone.

Findings revealed that men with low testosterone were six times more likely to develop thickening of the carotid artery and endothelium.

Furthermore, researchers also found that 54 percent of the participants with low testosterone and 10 percent with normal testosterone levels were at increased risk of developing heart disease.

Researchers believe that low testosterone in diabetic men can cause formation of plaques in the arteries that may built up with fat and cholesterol over time.