Insulin Sensitivity Affects Testosterone Levels in the Body

The following represents an article originally published for Primordial Performance.

©Eric Potratz, All Rights Reserved.
Printed with Permission.

January 7th, 2010 - Research has shown that people with type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome (i.e. insulin resistance) have significantly lower testosterone levels than regular men. (1,2) Insulin resistance is basically a condition where the insulin created by the body is insufficient to drive nutrients into the muscle and fat cells. This stems from having chronically elevated blood insulin levels.

Under constant stimulation from insulin, cellís become less sensitive to its effects, requiring more and more insulin to get nutrients into the cells. Therefore, anything which drives up blood sugar – like sugar, rice, pasta, beer, carbs of all kinds – and thus insulin levels can lead to a reduction in insulin sensitivity. Reduced insulin sensitivity equals lower testosterone levels.

References -

1. The dark side of testosterone deficiency: II. Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

Traish AM, Saad F, Guay A.

J Androl 2009 Jan-Feb;30(1):23-32


2. Low testosterone levels are common and associated with insulin resistance in men with diabetes.
Grossmann M, Thomas MC, Panagiotopoulos S, Sharpe K, Macisaac RJ, Clarke S, Zajac JD, Jerums G.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 May;93(5):1834-4

Relationship Between Testosterone Levels, Insulin Sensitivity, and Mitochondrial Function in Men

OBJECTIVE— The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between serum testosterone levels and insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function in men.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 60 men (mean age 60.5 ± 1.2 years) had a detailed hormonal and metabolic evaluation. Insulin sensitivity was measured using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and expression of oxidative phosphorylation genes in skeletal muscle.

RESULTS—A total of 45% of subjects had normal glucose tolerance, 20% had impaired glucose tolerance, and 35% had type 2 diabetes. Testosterone levels were positively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = 0.4, P < 0.005). Subjects with hypogonadal testosterone levels (n = 10) had a BMI >25 kg/m2 and a threefold higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome than their eugonadal counterparts (n = 50); this relationship held true after adjusting for age and sex hormone–binding globulin but not BMI. Testosterone levels also correlated with VO2max (r = 0.43, P < 0.05) and oxidative phosphorylation gene expression (r = 0.57, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS—These data indicate that low serum testosterone levels are associated with an adverse metabolic profile and suggest a novel unifying mechanism for the previously independent observations that low testosterone levels and impaired mitochondrial function promote insulin resistance in men.