Testosterone treatment in the form of gel shows excellent results in some men with type 2 diabetes, in diabetes control. Researchers found that applying testosterone gel decreased insulin resistance in diabetic men who had low levels of testosterone to begin with, or in similar men without diabetes but with a cluster of heart disease risk factors called metabolic syndrome. It also lowered their cholesterol levels and had some impact on their sexual function, as compared with a gel that looked the same but had no testosterone in it.

      Writing in the journal 'Diabetes Care', Dr. T. Hugh Jones of Barnsley Hospital in the UK and colleagues say their findings support testosterone treatment in men with low testosterone and type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

      In the new study, the researchers tested ProStrakan's testosterone gel Tostran against a dummy gel in 220 middle-aged and older men. The men used the gel once a day for a year.

      The insulin resistance went down by 16 percent in men on Tostran, despite the fact that many were already taking metformin, a drug that helps control blood sugar levels.

      Still, there was no difference overall between the fake gel and testosterone in terms of blood sugar control, the ultimate goal in diabetes care.

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