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Comment by JaninaWalker on March 22, 2013 at 12:40am

What I left out of the short explanation posted was that while taking DHEA, my testosterone levels were 4x what a woman my age would have and that was what caused me to be "zippier" and it feels good to feel younger. The thing is DHEA is at base what the adrenal and sex hormones are made out of, so that is why I felt more alive and younger.

For men, my doctor would first check the level of the PSA test as if that is too high, then taking DHEA may make it go higher.
I did not have any signs of extra hair growth, but I was told there was a start of cataracts, so that is why I have yet to renew it. However, vitamin E in high doses can prevent that effect, in lab animals, so I will try and get some more DHEA because the feeling younger and more vibrant is worth it and I already have used Vitamin E in high doses to good effect on reversing scars, by rubbing it on externally and swallowing the remainder. So I will be happy enough to take high dose VitE. I am 56 now and have used DHEA on and off since I was 43. It also did make my menstruation come back during the perimenopausal years for me of 43-49 as it is the basis for female hormones too.

Does anyone who is low on testosterone find that it is because they are on a statin, a cholesterol lowering drug?
The problem there is that even though cholesterol is inhibited production wise, the body still uses what is made to patch internal damage and that is what causes heart disease, so heart disease continues to get worse and what is left short are the other jobs of creating cell walls and hormones which will suffer from the limited cholesterol. They will get short changed. The way to solve the cholesterol issue is to lower internal damage so very little patching is needed and whatever cholesterol is made naturally can then be used to make cell walls and hormones and not leave the body wondering, hey where is the cholesterol when we need it? This is a major factor behind why the statin craze is so short sighted. It would also be why people with so called "good numbers" that result from statin use still get heart attacks. In reality their heart disease has not been helped by statins. The heart disease continues. So the drug companies and the doctors so misled by them, have it all wrong. If you saw a naturopathic doctor you might find they understand the real health issues better.

Comment by JaninaWalker on December 1, 2010 at 10:28am

I've helped a doctor for 10 years and so know a lot about DHEA and used it on and off for the full 10 years. I wrote a long explanation, but haven't put it up here yet, as you might not read it.
If you are in the USA, you will be able to get true pharmaceutical grade DHEA in a health food store as a supplement, but in Canada the drug companies succeeded in convincing the government to ban it's OTC retail sale as it is a hormone and they said it should be treated as a drug. It is a hormone, but it is definitely not a drug and wise people do know how to follow directions. The REAL reason they wanted it's sale banned was because it is so good that it was interfering with the sale of their drugs...as who needs drugs if you feel great?
My doctor, who imports from the USA just for selling to his own patients.... it is only $20 for 30 at 25mg..... I'm only giving you the price so you see that it is not expensive and you can find it in health shops in the USA.
If you want me to post my longer explanation, I will. I haven't checked how many of you are in the USA or elsewhere. I feel sorry for Canadians not being able to get it. I feel much worse when I run out, like now...I haven't gotten down to his clinic to get a stock for the next several months. There is no need to take it, but it does make an improvement in glucose contol, mood and a feeling in terms of personality. I do feel younger...zippier. My blood test results are also a result of my knowing a lot about supplements.

Comment by shrek on August 31, 2010 at 4:47am

Well, the Lantus didn't last long. I was having no effect from it, so I've been switched to Humalog 75/25 twice a day.

Androgel seems to be doing the trick for me. I haven't noticed a lot of the physical manifestations of it, other than maybe a slight increase in muscle mass, but my levels are back to upper normal numbers. My urologist actually is having me bump from 5g to 7.5g, to see if we can push it a little. He wants to see the energy level increase. At 6 pumps a day, I feel like I'm bathing in this stuff, now.

BTW, the switch to Humalog 75/25 has brought my bG into normal range for the first time, since I was diagnosed.

Comment by Jim H on August 29, 2010 at 10:15am

CarbloverTX - For the first 15 years or so of knowing my low T status, I've had shots of T given every 2-3 weeks. It was only in the last couple years that I tried Testim and Androgel. Testim seemed to raise my T level somewhat into the low-normal range, but I disliked having to apply it on the back of my shoulders. Androgel can be appliled to different areas, but for me it didn't improve my levels much. So now I'm back on getting shots and have noticed dramatic changes in my energy levels, etc. Luckily, my endo's office is a mere 15 mins from work so it's convenient for me.

Comment by CarbloverTX on August 28, 2010 at 1:33pm

Going on 2 weeks with Testim. So far I haven't noticed any improvements in my energy level.

Comment by CarbloverTX on August 18, 2010 at 7:48pm

Best of luck to you, Shreck. Never heard of Levemir, so I don't know what the difference is. I was on Humulin for a while, but since when i am working, I may not get to take meal breaks as scheduled, it wasn't good for me. That's where the pump is a lifesaver. It gives me a constant dose (much as Lantus would continue to work over the duration of the day), and then I take extra based on what I'm eating. i can take that dose right before my meal, so i never dose and then get caught having to wait to eat.

Comment by shrek on August 17, 2010 at 10:35am

Update time...

Well, I finally made the jump to insulin. Although I was set on using Levemir, my doc convinced me (kinda) that Lantus would be better. Also, saw my urologist, instead of his PA, and found out I had been misdiagnosed. While I do have the varicocele, it was not causing my pain. My pain is being caused by epididymitis. So, surgery is now off the radar. At least, this should be fairly easy to treat, even though I have already been through 3 months of significant pain. The big hope is that after this is treated, my bG should be easier to manage, since my body will no longer be under the stress of constant pain. Unfortunately, this may not have any effect on my low T. Time will tell, but I don't expect to be off testosterone replacement any time soon.

Comment by shrek on August 12, 2010 at 4:10am

Jim,
I'm probably going to have to stick to the Androgel. Unfortunately, I work an hour away from home and my urologist, so I have to take a day off work for any doctor appointments. I understand the annoyance of the daily application. It can be hard to remember it some days, especially when getting up at 4:30am.

Carblover,
I have definitely been dealing with the fatigue and insomnia. I seem to be lucky to get 2-3 hours of sleep each night.

One of my concerns is, if these problems are interconnected, which caused the other, or is it just coincidence. I have read studies that say diabetes can cause low T, and others that say low T can cause diabetes. So far, I haven't been able to get my bG down into normal levels, so it looks like insulin is in my near future. Also, I see my urologist tomorrow to check my T levels and discuss surgery to fix my varicocele issue. With any luck, the surgery will help me bring my natural T levels back up (somewhat), which may also help me control my bG. Also, the surgery should alleviate the pain I am experiencing, so I can get back out riding my bike, hiking, and doing other exercise which I have been unable to do lately.

Comment by Jim H on August 11, 2010 at 11:09pm

I was diagnosed with Klinefelter's Syndrome about 20 years ago, and diabetes 5 years later.

I've been on testosterone replacement ever since. For the last couple of years, I've tried Androgel and Testim, but am looking forward to going back to getting shots at my doc's office every two weeks. The daily application of gel was annoying.

Comment by CarbloverTX on August 11, 2010 at 8:22pm

I, too, have been amazed by how interconnected everything seems to be with my diabetes. Not sure if it's the chicken, or the egg, if you know what I mean. Asthama, foggy memory, low T, diabetes, fatigue, sleep apnea and insomnia. It all seems one influences all the others; but I'm not sure yet what the root cause is. Will have an MRI on the pituitary soon.

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