DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a naturally occurring steroidal hormone in the body, produced by the adrenal gland, which is converted into the male and female sex hormones. A possible connection between DHEA and diabetes was not considered until recently. It was believed that the only function of DHEA was to create testosterone and estrogen, but recent research has shown that it’s involved in many functions, possibly even to help prevent cancer. It has been referred to as the “anti-aging hormone.” DHEA supplements were popular in the 1980s, marketed for anti-aging and weight loss. The Food and Drug Administration prohibited its sale for several years, citing a lack of research on long-term effects. A change in laws brought it back as a supplement in 1994, and there have been numerous studies since then, showing its cancer fighting qualities and other uses, including the connection between DHEA and diabetes. DHEA is synthesized from …