If your testosterone levels are below normal, you should probably do something to increase your testosterone levels. Why? Because testosterone is very important for your metabolic health. Research shows that men with low testosterone levels are at risk of type 2 diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. Of course, as you probably already know, type 2 diabetes happens when your blood sugar levels are not regulated properly.

Metabolic Syndrome, on the other hand, is a group of symptoms linked to poor metabolic health that include high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, abnormal blood fats, inflammation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and blood-clotting abnormalities.

Both health problems are nasty; they can drain your energy levels, increase your risk of a heart attack and pretty much ruin your sex life. Low testosterone might cause these problems by altering body composition, decreasing androgen receptor sensitivity, impairing glucose (sugar) transport into cells and reducing the cells’ ability to fight free radicals that cause cell destruction.

The bottom line is this: There are things you can and should do to make sure that your testosterone levels are within a normal range. Some studies show that certain testosterone supplements can do the trick, but if your diet is out of whack, focus on fixing it first. If that does not help, talk to your doctor. [sources: Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, Fitness RX]