Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps reduce blood glucose, or your cells don’t use insulin efficiently. This causes blood sugar levels to buildup in the blood, which in the long term can lead to organ damage. Diabetics often have low levels of DHEA, which is required for male and female hormone production.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a hormone synthesized in your body and secreted by the adrenal gland. It’s responsible for making the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone estrogen. After the age of 30, DHEA levels naturally start to decline. Other common causes of low DHEA levels include adrenal insufficiency, anorexia and AIDS, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Diabetics
Diabetics may have low DHEA levels, according to a study conducted by researchers at Yokohama City University School of Medicine in Japan. Scientists measured the DHEA levels of diabetic patients with hyperinsulinaemia and normal subjects. They observed that those in the diabetic group had significantly lower DHEA levels compared with those in the normal group. The findings were published in the September 1998 issue of “Clinical Endocrinology.”
Aerobic Exercise
One way diabetics can boost DHEA levels is by performing aerobic exercise. Researchers at Saint-Louis University Hospital in France studied the impact of aerobic exercise on DHEA levels in type 2 diabetic men. Subjects performed 45 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a week for eight weeks. DHEA levels were measured before and after the exercise program. At the end of the study, which was published in the August 2001 issue of "International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders,” scientists observed that participants experienced increases in DHEA levels.
Side Effects
If you decide to take DHEA supplements, several side effects have been reported, including fatigue, emotional changes, insomnia and acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. Consult your health care provider before taking any DHEA supplements.
