Sex hormones, obesity, fat distribution, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance: epidemiological and clinical correlation

Increased androgenicity as assessed by increased testosterone and decreased SHBG is strongly associated with an unfavorable body fat distribution and increased glucose and insulin concentrations and insulin resistance in both pre- and postmenopausal women. However, the temporal direction of the association between androgens and insulin is uncertain. In men, the association between SHBG and insulin levels is much weaker and is probably inverse.