The issue with type two diabetes is that, despite it being so well known, it’s not understood 100% and there are a lot of studies being run into the condition. Though ¾ of all type two diabetics are said to be obese that leaves the other quarter who aren’t and scientists still don’t understand just why those people contract the condition in the first place.
What is known is that losing weight and working to improve diet is incredibly important to the management of type two diabetes. It’s the standard advice to any type two diabetic and researchers in Australia are currently setting up a study with 1500 obese men at risk of contracting diabetes. They’re under the belief that by catching the condition early (targeting people in high risk groupings) they can prevent the disease from emerging at all and ensure that the patients continue living life as they always have.
The study will treat all of the men with testosterone as it’s been shown that as men get older they get larger and as they get larger their testosterone levels begin to sink. The scientists believe that it’s this dip which lessens men’s likelihood to exercise and otherwise stay healthy, too little of the male hormone also affects sex drive and various other things. The subjects will be invited to join weight watchers too to try and encourage this weight loss and prevent diabetes.
This study is all set to begin and we’ll all watch with great interest. The results could help to define whether testosterone has a future as a diabetes preventative, or not at all. It’ll take 2 years to complete and we’ll be right here to bring your any updates that occur before then!