Diabetic neuropathies in males: circadian variation in pituitary gonadal hormonal release

ABSTRACT

The circadian variation in plasma levels of prolactin, gonadotropins, testosterone and glucose were studied in 26 insulin dependent diabetic male [IDDM] patients. Sixteen patients were asymptomatic without neuropathy and ten patients had established neuropathy with organic impotence. The results of this study indicate that diurnal levels of luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], prolactin [PRL] and testosterone [T] are similar in diabetic patients with and without neuropathy. During the nocturnal period, a sleep related increase in plasma prolactin and testosterone levels were obtained in the diabetic patients without neuropathy. In diabetic patients with neuropathy, plasma prolactin and testosterone levels were similar during the diurnal and nocturnal period. These results support previous findings that diabetic patients with neuropathy do not have abnormal gonadotropins and testosterone levels