Testosterone deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus with varying degrees of carbohydrate metabolic compensation

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate total testosterone level in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and varying degrees of carbohydrate metabolic compensation. Materials and Methods. The continuous cross-sectional non-interventional screening study included 100 men 45 [43; 48] years of age with newly diagnosed type 2 DM. The study continued from February through May of 2021. The level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and total blood testosterone were determined. Group comparisons were performed via Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test and Fisher’s exact test. The differences were assumed statistically significant at p<0.05. Results. When comparing patients with different HbA1c content, we discovered that in patients with HbA1c from less than 6.5 to 9.9%, total testosterone levels as well as testosterone deficiency prevalence did not differ statistically significantly. At HbA1c >12%, the prevalence of testosterone deficiency increased statistically significantly (p<0.001), and testosterone levels decreased (p<0.001). Comparison of patient groups with HbA1c levels from less than 6.5 to 9.9% and from 10 to 11.9% did not yield statistically significant differences in the testosterone deficiency prevalence and testosterone content. However, there was a trend towards worse parameter values in the latter group, especially because patients with HbA1c levels from less than 6.5 to 9.9% were older. Conclusion. Total testosterone levels in type 2 DM patients are associated with carbohydrate metabolic compensation. Negative impact on testosterone production was detected in patients with HbA1c content of ≥10%.