Most people who have diabetes will experience a type of diabetic condition known as type 2 diabetes. This is what about 90% of diabetes sufferers have (source), and it’s important for men to know the symptoms. That way, if they start experiencing some of the common diabetic symptoms, they will know to seek out a doctor so that they can start treating their condition.
Here are the signs/symptoms that men should be looking for when it comes to diabetes.
Some symptoms of diabetes that don’t get talked about as much are sexual ones that primarily affect men. Keep in mind that one of these symptoms on its own is not necessarily an indication that someone is suffering from diabetes. There could be many reasons why someone experiences symptoms of this nature. Let’s look at a few of those sexual symptoms:
Retrograde Type Ejaculation- With this condition, semen can go into the bladder, and it can also cause very little semen to be released when ejaculating. This is actually a very common symptom for men suffering from diabetes.
Erectile Dysfunction- Someone suffering from ED (erectile dysfunction) may have difficulty achieving or keeping an erection. Because this symptom can be commonly caused by a large number of medical conditions, it shouldn’t be automatically assumed that someone who has ED has diabetes as well. However, the stress and physical changes that come with diabetes, as well as the medications used to treat this disease, might lead to ED developing. Diabetes comes with a high risk of ED developing in men, with a prevalence of about 50%.
Nerve and Blood Vessel Changes- Diabetes causes changes to blood vessels, making them expand or constrict. It can also cause damage to the nerves of the penis, and any of these changes can have a serious effect on sexual health and performance. This can lead to ED and other sexual health problems.
Urinary Issues- Men should also be aware that nerve damage caused by diabetes can create neurological health issues. These may include urinary tract infections (called UTIs for short), a loss of bladder control, or excessive need to urinate.
Treating Diabetes in Men
While diabetes may not be curable, there are plenty of resources and treatment options available for men to help manage the various symptoms they may suffer from. They can start with a resource like Canadian Insulin or other online medication resources to help with managing some of their symptoms in a discreet way. After they have consulted with their doctor and a diabetic diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment is the next step.
With proper treatment, diabetes symptoms can be kept under more control, including sexual health-related symptoms as well as those that are specific to men. Depending on the symptoms men suffer from, there may be treatments for them that are different than what women with diabetes would require. Since diabetes can affect testosterone levels, men may benefit from testosterone injections to help deal with some of their symptoms. Bear in mind that these are not symptoms that should be self-medicated but should be discussed with a health care provider before a treatment plan is developed and followed.
Lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on symptoms like those discussed in this article. Men who change their diet, lose weight, and exercise more can see significant changes in their overall health and a decrease in their diabetic symptoms. While these symptoms may never fully go away, they can be managed and minimized to the point where they are only rarely an issue. However, it’s important to note that not all men will experience the same results when being treated for their diabetes. In some cases, treatment is more successful than in others. This is why it’s very important to consult with a doctor and get on a treatment plan that will be most effective for specific person’s symptoms and health conditions.
Men will have a higher likelihood of experiencing diabetes than women, so symptoms like those already mentioned here should be considered as potential diabetic symptoms and may need to be treated as such after an official diagnosis.