Men's Health: Take Charge of Your Diabetes

The number of American men living with diabetes is at a record high. Untreated, diabetes can lead to a myriad of life-altering complications including blindness, organ failure, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and stroke. In addition, Type 2 diabetes has also been linked to certain cancers such as liver, pancreas, colon, and bladder.

While there is no cure for diabetes, there are very effective ways to manage symptoms. But before you can do that, you first must recognize that you have diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 77% of the more than 33 million Americans living with diabetes are not even aware they have it.

For men at any age, common symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes that should be of concern include:

- Urinating often

- Feeling very thirsty

- Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating

- Extreme fatigue

- Blurry vision

- Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal

- Weight loss—even though you are eating more 

- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet 

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications including gum disease, heart disease, stroke, low testosterone and related sexual health issues; kidney disease, which may require dialysis; and poor circulation in the feet, which may necessitate amputation.

While there are similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the cause and treatment of each is very different, and symptoms may vary. For example, people with type 1 diabetes may also experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain, in addition to the aforementioned symptoms. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age with symptoms usually appearing quickly, over just a few weeks or months, and can become severe.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, symptoms may take several years to develop and can often be overlooked. As a result, many people are not properly diagnosed in a timely manner, thus delaying treatment. It is worth noting type 2 is the most common form of diabetes in the U.S. for men, accounting for over 90% of the 13 million men with diabetes.

The key to treating diabetes of any type is keeping close tabs on your blood sugar levels and aiming to keep them at a level determined by your diabetes provider. 

Men with type 1 diabetes require insulin to keep levels in range. They also need to check blood sugar levels throughout the day using a glucometer or a glucose monitoring system. Both track your sugar levels and help your provider determine the right dosage of insulin for you.

At times, especially early on in the disease, men with type 2 diabetes can manage their blood sugar levels with diet (including timing meals) and exercise. In some instances, insulin and other medications may also be prescribed to manage blood sugar levels.

In addition to your blood sugar levels, your doctor will need to consider other health conditions that may impact how well a given drug will control your blood sugar level. Conditions that affect potential treatment options include:

- Obesity

- High blood pressure

- High cholesterol

- Heart disease

- Kidney disease 

- Sleep apnea or other sleep problems 

- Depression 

Lifestyle choices that may also impact how well treatment works is smoking and alcohol consumption. When discussing treatment options with your provider, it is important to be honest about your habits so your diabetes can be treated properly.

If you have questions or concerns about diabetes, contact your healthcare provider. Testing for diabetes is quick and easy, and an early diagnosis can help prevent life-altering complications. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, or pre-diabetes, there are diabetes education and care specialists (CDECS) available at SVMC, at no cost to you, to help understand and care for your diabetes.

Jill Robart, RN, CDECS  is a is a diabetes educator working in primary care practices throughout the region as part of the SVMC Diabetes Education team.