While the overall amount of diabetes cases being diagnosed is increasing, there is a dramatic rise in the number of men being diagnosed with diabetes. People should be aware of diabetes symptoms in men since early detection and treatment provides the best prognosis.
Common diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, more frequent urination, fatigue, and weight loss or weight gain without changing eating habits or activity level. Other symptoms of diabetes include changes in vision and sores that are taking a long time to heal.
Some people with diabetes experience dry mouth, increased appetite, and nausea. Both men and women may experience itching skin in the groin area and yeast infections.
Diabetes can cause changes in the person’s mood. People with diabetes may experience irritability or symptoms similar to depression such as sadness and hopelessness.
Many different complications of diabetes can affect men and women. Elevated levels of glucose in the blood can damage nerves, blood vessels, and organs.
Gum disease, heart disease, blindness, kidney damage, and stroke are possible complications of diabetes. Nerve damage can affect different parts of the body and cause tingling, weakness, numbness, or other impairments.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), there is a correlation between hearing loss and diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss than the general public.
Diabetes can make the person prone to skin infections such as bacterial and fungal infections. These infections can cause itchy rashes, boils, styes, blisters, scaly skin, or discolorations of the skin. Some skin infections can cause red, inflamed areas of skin.
Men may develop sexual problems that can be complications of diabetes. Erectile dysfunction can occur if diabetes causes nerve or blood vessel damage.
Abnormally low levels of testosterone are more common in men with diabetes than men who do not have diabetes. Low testosterone levels can cause a diminished interest in sex and erectile dysfunction.
There are treatment options for these complications of diabetes in men. The diabetics experiencing these problems should discuss treatment with their physicians.
With proper management of diabetes, many symptoms of diabetes can be alleviated. Diabetes complications such as nerve and blood vessel damage may not be able to be reversed, but managing diabetes can often prevent, delay, or lessen the severity of these complications.
Diabetic patients should follow their doctor’s instructions for proper diet and exercise. Monitoring blood sugar levels should be done as often as the doctor recommends.
If a diabetic patient develops signs of having any complications of diabetes or an increase in the symptoms, the patient should consult their physician as soon as possible. Seeking immediate medical attention can often limit the amount of damage that diabetes complications cause to the body.