Glycemic Variability in Subjects with Diabetes and Hypogonadism during Testosterone Replacement Treatment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: This is a proof of concept, as a pilot study, with the aim to evaluate continuous glucose monitoring metrics (CGM) in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), treated with nutritional therapy and metformin, before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Methods: In this longitudinal observational study, subjects affected by T2DM and starting TRT for documented ED and hypogonadism were enrolled. All subjects mounted a CGM system during the v0 visit, one week before the beginning of the TRT (week−1), during v2, four weeks after the start of TRT (week 4), and v4 (week 12). CGM was worn for about 144 h after each visit. Results: A total of seven patients, referring to our clinic for erectile dysfunction (ED), were studied (aged 63.3 ± 2.3 years). Mean (± standard deviation) total testosterone level was 2.3 ± 0.6 ng/mL at baseline. After TRT, total testosterone level was 4.6 ± 3.04 ng/mL at week 4 and 3.93 ± 4.67 ng/mL at week 12. No significant differences were observed in TIR, TAR, TBR, estimated HbA1c, AUC below, and AUC above limit during the intervention period. Conclusions: This is the first study evaluating the effects of TRT on daily glucose excursions in subjects with T2DM and hypogonadism. Though we did not find any significant difference in key CGM metrics during the 12 weeks of TRT, this study confirms the glycometabolic safety of the TRT even on the most novel standardized glycemic targets.

Diabetes technology and sexual health: which role?

“…Considering male hypogonadism, several cross‐sectional studies reported up to 40% of men with T2DM exhibit low testosterone levels [ 2 ]. A recent study conducted by Defeudis et al [ 26 ], evaluated the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on glycemic control and variability measured with aCGM, in people with T2DM and ED. The authors found no significant differences in TIR, time above range (TAR, > 140 mg/dL), time below range (TBR, < 70 mg/dL), estimated HbA1c, area under the curve (AUC) for blood glucose values above and below the target during the intervention period.…”