BACKGROUND

Low serum testosterone is reported to be common in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). However, the Endocrine society has recommended that the diagnosis of male hypogonadism be based on the presence of symptoms of testosterone deficiency in combination with low serum testosterone.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and correlates of hypogonadism in a cohort of Nigerian men with type 2 DM.

METHODS

We studied 100 men with type 2 DM and 100 age matched non-diabetic men in a cross-sectional study. The Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire was administered to all study subjects. Anthropometric parameters, total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), serum Gonadotrophins, glycated haemoglobin and lipid profile were measured. Serum free testosterone was calculated using Vermeulen's equation. Hypogonadism was considered present in men with symptoms of hypogonadism in combination with a low calculated free testosterone (cFT) < 0.255nmol/l. Data was analysed using SPSS 20 package with level of significance set at p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

41% of men with type 2 DM had hypogonadism, compared to 10% of non-diabetic men. Secondary hypogonadism was found in 22% of men with type 2 DM, while primary hypogonadism was present in 19%. Amongst hypogonadal men with type 2 DM, secondary hypogonadism was the underlying cause in 53.7%. Truncal obesity was identified as a significant independent predictor of hypogonadism.

CONCLUSION

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that hypogonadism was a common condition among men with type 2 DM. Truncal obesity emerged as a significant independent predictor of hypogonadism.