BHRT: Can It Assist in Managing Heart Disease and Diabetes in Men?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is hormone therapy using hormones that are identical to those produced by the human body.  BHRT uses hormones that are produced from plants.  The most common bioidentical hormones used are bioidentical forms of progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen.  These compounded hormones come in a variety of forms and doses such as pills, creams, gels, sprays, injectables, and vaginal inserts.  Many feel that compounded bioidentical hormones are not only safer and more effective, but are a more natural and more individualized alternative to conventional hormone therapy.  There are those who disagree with this and prefer to use synthetic hormones that are approved by the FDA.  The most common synthetic hormones are made from the urine of pregnant horses and then synthesized in a laboratory.  Many people prefer to use bioidentical hormone therapy because it is not only more natural, but it does not depend on the cruel manipulation of an animal’s gestation period and the birth of unwanted foals.

Diabetes, a disease that affects how the body uses blood sugar or glucose, is more prevalent in men with low testosterone.  Glucose, the brain’s main source of food, is an important source of food for the cells that make up the body’s muscles and tissues. Diabetes causes an excess of sugar in the blood which can cause serious health problems.  Problems that can come from an excess of sugar in the blood include:

  • nerve damage, especially in the legs.
  • nerve damage in the stomach which can cause digestive problems.
  • heart and cardiovascular disease.
  • an increased risk for strokes.
  • kidney damage.
  • damage to the eyes which can lead to blindness.
  • bacterial and fungal conditions on the skin and in the mouth.
  • hearing loss.
  • poor circulation in the feet which can cause limb loss.
  • depression
  • an increased risk of developing dementia.

Diabetes is related to low testosterone because hormonal imbalances can result in your body being unable to produce insulin which is needed to turn the glucose in your body into energy.  When your body has difficulty turning glucose into energy your body develops a condition known as insulin resistance.  When this happens, your body’s blood glucose levels elevate and you suffer the symptoms and complications of diabetes.  Men with low testosterone are twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes.  While the relationship between diabetes and low testosterone are still unclear, it is believed that testosterone is significant in signaling a pathway responsible for glucose uptake into the cells.  Studies continue to define testosterone’s exact role in the body’s handling of glucose; however, a recent 2020 study showed that testosterone had a major impact on men suffering with type 2 diabetes.  The study tracked 356 men with type 2 diabetes and low testosterone.  The study found that all of the men improved their glycemic control and their insulin resistance with long term hormone replacement therapy.  One-third of men experienced a remission of their type 2 diabetes and the majority of them reached their target level of an average blood sugar level.  Testosterone therapy has also been found to increase lean body mass and decrease body fat.

Heart problems may be another risk of low testosterone. While low testosterone levels have been linked to cardiac risk factors, the research is still being done to see if low testosterone actually helps cause heart disease.  However, men with low testosterone seem to be more at risk of developing or dying from heart disease.  Men who have low testosterone have thicker arteries which is a known risk factor for heart disease.  Low testosterone is also linked to obesity which is another major factor in heart disease.  Men with low testosterone usually find in difficult to maintain lean body mass or muscle; instead, their bodies tend to build more adipose tissue or body fat.  Low levels of testosterone are also linked to a build-up of calcium in the arteries which is another major risk factor in developing heart disease.

The best way to avoid the myriad of problems that can come from a hormone imbalance from diabetes is to contact someone like the healthcare professionals at Androgenix for both a complete health physical and blood work.  A healthcare professional will advise you about the many things you can do on your own to lower your susceptibility or risk to type 2 diabetes.

Losing weight, eating a healthy diet, avoiding processed foods, and exercising regularly can help not only raise your testosterone levels but improve your overall health.  Since sometimes the body needs help reestablishing healthy levels of nutrients and hormones, and if you are concerned about your hormone levels, especially if you are feeling tire or foggy and can’t seem to lose that body fat, you should talk with a healthcare specialist to see about getting your hormone levels checked.

 

How Can Androgenix Help?

If you want to live your best life, the medical practitioners at Androgenix are here to help. If you have any questions about hormone levels and any possible deficiencies due to diet, stress, or life situations, please contact us with your questions.   If you are concerned about how to ensure you are giving your body what it needs to be at its best or have any other concerns about any areas of your health, please contact our office and make an appointment with our staff to get a complete blood work-up and a physical examination. Our staff of caring healthcare practitioners are here to answer your questions and develop an appropriate treatment plan for you.  You will be monitored by our team for treatment effectiveness and side effects of any recommended treatment on a regular basis.   Our team at Androgenix is always here to support your journey to a better, healthier, and happier you.

 

 

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*Unless otherwise stated, individual results may vary depending on many factors not all patients “feel” or achieve the same results.