A study by the San Raffaele Hospital has discovered a connection between prediabetes and male infertility. The researchers looked at 744 men with fertility problems. 15.4% of them had high blood glucose levels, enough to be included in the diagnosis of prediabetes. According to the study, the two things could be connected.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not enough to talk about diabetes. These indicate however that there is a problem: without a change in lifestyle, there is a risk of developing diabetes itself. Physical activity and a moderate diet can help to this end. According to doctors, it is also useful to lose about 5% of body weight. What is the link with fertility, however?

The study does not explain the causal link between prediabetes and male infertility. It only shows that there is an association between the two: men with prediabetes have hormonal and metabolic problems, damaged spermatozoa. It is thought that the blame could be the oxidative stress typical of prediabetes, which could affect testicular metabolism.

The study highlights the importance of a factor often overlooked in the diagnosis of infertility: glucose metabolism. Yet this could be the cause of at least some cases of unexplained infertility. Prediabetes is in fact a condition that often remains without a diagnosis, at least until it turns into true diabetes.

Source: everydayhealth.com