Does testosterone help diabetic men avoid kidney and heart problems?
Testosterone therapy is associated with reduced risk of acute kidney injury, kidney failure with renal replacement therapy, and cardiovascular events in men with diabetes and hypogonadism
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Testosterone therapy was linked to lower risk of atrial fibrillation (9% reduction), a condition often worsened by obesity and metabolic syndrome—conditions testosterone is supposed to improve.
Previous studies suggested testosterone might increase arrhythmia risk; this flips that assumption in diabetic men with hypogonadism.
Practical Takeaways
Men with type 2 diabetes and symptoms of low testosterone (fatigue, low libido, muscle loss) should ask their doctor for a blood test to check testosterone levels.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Testosterone therapy was linked to lower risk of atrial fibrillation (9% reduction), a condition often worsened by obesity and metabolic syndrome—conditions testosterone is supposed to improve.
Previous studies suggested testosterone might increase arrhythmia risk; this flips that assumption in diabetic men with hypogonadism.
Practical Takeaways
Men with type 2 diabetes and symptoms of low testosterone (fatigue, low libido, muscle loss) should ask their doctor for a blood test to check testosterone levels.
Publication
Journal
Cardiovascular Diabetology
Year
2025
Authors
F. Bonnet, Patricia Vaduva, J. Halimi, Arnaud Dosda, P. Ducluzeau, Laetitia Koppe, Laurent Fauchier
Related Content
Claims (7)
Studies with lots of people and strict methods show that giving men testosterone at normal body levels doesn’t make them more likely to die or have serious heart problems.
For men who have both diabetes and low testosterone, taking testosterone therapy might lower their chance of having a heart attack by about 15% over about three years.
For men who have both diabetes and low testosterone, taking testosterone therapy might lower their chance of having a stroke by about 12% over about three and a half years.
For men who have both diabetes and low testosterone, taking testosterone therapy might help lower their chance of needing dialysis or a kidney transplant by about 19% over about 3 years.
For men who have both diabetes and low testosterone, taking testosterone therapy might help lower their chance of suddenly developing kidney problems over about three and a half years.