diabetes

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Diabetes in Men

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes-Related Problems in Men
Signs of Diabetes
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
You Can Delay or Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Know Your Risks That Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes
Publications and Organizations

Did you know that about 7.8 million men in the United States have diabetes, but that more than one third of them do not even know it?

What is Diabetes?

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (sugar) for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas makes insulin, which helps sugar get into the cells. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use the insulin it does make. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Over the years, high blood sugar leads to problems like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputations.

Diabetes-Related Problems in Men

Men with diabetes suffer more from some diabetes-related health problems than women. The American Diabetes Association reports that:

In people who develop diabetes before the age of 30, men develop retinopathy (a vision disorder that can lead to blindness) more quickly than women.
Having the main symptoms of peripheral vascular disease (pain in the thigh, calf, or buttocks during exercise) is linked to a two- to three-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cardiac failure in men with diabetes.
Amputation rates from diabetes-related problems are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes.

Men with diabetes also face special concerns like impotence (not being able to have or keep an erection). Men with diabetes can help prevent impotence by:

controlling blood sugar levels
not worrying (fear of becoming impotent can sometimes be the cause)
not drinking large amounts of alcohol, which can cause impotence
not smoking, (smoking causes blood vessels to narrow, which can lead to impotence)

Signs of Diabetes

feeling tired
frequent urination (especially at night)
being very thirsty
weight loss
blurry eyesight
recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
sores that heal slowly
dry, itchy skin
loss of feeling or tingling in your feet

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

There are different kinds of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the immune system (the body's way to fight infection) attacks the cells that make insulin in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then makes little or no insulin, and cells can't take sugar from your blood. If not diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person can lapse into a life-threatening coma. Someone with type 1 diabetes takes insulin shots or uses an insulin pump. He also needs to make wise food choices, exercise regularly, and control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. We don't know yet how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but you can benefit by keeping your blood sugar under control.
Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop it at any age-even during childhood. Type 2 diabetes begins when your body can't use insulin right (insulin resistance). There is too much sugar in your blood. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by making more insulin. In time though, it can't make enough insulin. Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes taking diabetes pills, making wise food choices, exercising regularly, and controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The good news is we now know that if you have pre-diabetes, you can reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, you can prevent or delay complications.

You Can Delay or Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

When you take steps to prevent diabetes, you also lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation. Small changes in your lifestyle can make a difference. They include getting 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight. And you don't have to run marathons or stop eating!

To help you lose weight, choose low-fat foods and foods high in fiber. Cut down on fat and cholesterol by having low-fat dairy products, lean cuts of meat, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. Also, limit foods high in salt and sugar.

Know Your Risks That Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes

It's important to find out early if you have type 2 diabetes or if you are at risk of developing it. To find out if you're at risk, check off each item that applies to you.

I am overweight or obese. Talk with your health care provider to figure out if you are overweight or obese. (Obesity is measured with a body mass index (BMI), which shows the relationship of weight to height. Click here to figure out your BMI).
I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
My family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Latino, or Pacific Islander.
My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told I have high blood pressure.
My cholesterol is not normal. My HDL or "good" cholesterol is less than 50 or my triglycerides are 250 or higher.
I am not very active. I exercise less than three times each week.

Talk to your health care provider about the risks that you checked off. If you are age 45 or older, also talk to your health care provider about getting tested for type 2 diabetes. If your test result is normal, you should then be tested every three years. People younger than age 45 who are overweight or obese and checked off any of the items above should also talk to their health care provider about getting tested for diabetes.

Last Updated: November 2003

The following resources can help you stay on top of what you need to know about diabetes:

Publications

Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? - This booklet defines diabetes and reviews the signs and symptoms of the disease. It discusses the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and the ways it can be prevented.
Control Your Diabetes For Life - Tips for Feeling Better and Staying Healthy - This booklet provides an action plan for diabetes control that includes tips on knowing, reaching and maintaining blood glucose levels.
Financial Help for Diabetes Care - Many people who have diabetes need help paying some of the bills. It's a good idea to start by looking for an insurance plan that covers as many diabetes-related expenses as possible. A variety of governmental and nongovernmental programs exist to help, depending on whether you qualify. This publication discusses the options.
What I Need to Know about Eating and Diabetes - This publication reviews diabetes nutrition basics, including what, when, and how much a person with diabetes should eat. It discusses healthier ways to buy, cook and eat foods to achieve good blood glucose control.
Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 - This booklet helps patients to manage their diabetes, by giving advice on eating healthy, checking blood glucose levels and keeping in touch with a healthcare physician.

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

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