(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers have long known men with type 2 diabetes are more likely to suffer from a deficiency of the male hormone, testosterone. Now, new research shows the same is true for men with type 1 diabetes.

Investigators from the University of Melbourne in Australia studied men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, measuring testosterone levels from blood samples. Testosterone deficiencies were seen in both groups.

The authors note testosterone plays an important role in men’s health. Lower levels seen in diabetics could be impacting many areas of functioning and researchers say the hormone deserves more attention from physicians and scientists.

“As testosterone deficiency may contribute to impaired performance, mood, and libido, as well as have adverse impact on cardiovascular risk, these findings demonstrate the presence of a significant and unrecognized problem among men with diabetes,” study author Mathis Grossmann, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted as saying. “Our findings of insulin resistance as a potential determinant of reduced testosterone levels may represent an important avenue for intervention.”

But the authors stop short of recommending testosterone replacement therapy for diabetic men, noting the benefits and drawbacks of this treatment will require much more study before it could be used in the general population of diabetics with testosterone deficiency.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, published online March 25, 2008