Diabetes Symptoms in Men

Diabetes is a health problem, characterized by an abnormally high blood sugar level. Diabetes symptoms in men, as well as its causes and treatment are explained in this article. So, read on to know more about this condition.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a condition, where the body fails to manage the level of blood sugar. The disease is characterized by an abnormal rise in the level of blood sugar or glucose due to an inability of the body cells to absorb and utilize glucose from the bloodstream. The body cells require a hormone, known as insulin to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, and insulin is produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. A shortage of insulin, as well as failure of the body cells to respond to insulin can manifest in diabetes and high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. Diabetes can produce a number of symptoms in men and women. In this article, we are going to discuss about the diabetes symptoms in men, as well as the causes and treatment for this condition.

Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes can be caused by an insufficient production of insulin or due to the failure of the cells of the body to respond to insulin. Diabetes is mainly of two types, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is known as juvenile diabetes and is characterized by the shortage of insulin. The condition usually results from an autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes or insulin independent diabetes is associated with an inability of the body cells to utilize insulin effectively. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which some women develop during pregnancy. Development of diabetes can be influenced by a number of factors including, genetics and environmental factors like, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, age, polycystic ovarian syndrome, a poor diet and infections.

Diabetes Symptoms in Men

Though diabetes can produce a number of symptoms, many of the early signs of diabetes can look quite similar to the symptoms of certain other health conditions. This can make it difficult to recognize this condition. But, it is important to identify and treat diabetes early, as untreated diabetes can lead to some serious health complications. Knowledge about the symptoms of diabetes is immensely important for preventing such complications. The symptoms of diabetes in men are explained below.

Excessive Thirst and Urination

Excessive thirst and urination are considered as some of the most common diabetes symptoms. Both men and women with diabetes can experience frequent urination or 'polyuria' and excessive thirst or 'polydipsia'. Frequent urination is caused by a high level of glucose, which adversely affects the filtering capacity of the kidneys. The kidneys start to draw more water from blood, as a result of which the affected person experiences an increase in the frequency of urination. Frequent urination causes the loss of excess fluid from the body or dehydration, which manifests in increased thirst.

Unusual Weight Loss and Fatigue

Unexplained weight loss is another symptom of diabetes in both men and women. Weight loss can result due to the fact that, in diabetes the body cells fail to absorb and utilize glucose from the bloodstream effectively. The cells of the body need glucose to produce energy and so, an inability to absorb glucose can also result in unusual fatigue.

Increase in Appetite

Diabetic patients experience constant hunger or an increase in appetite, if the body produces a high level of insulin in an attempt to bring down the level of blood sugar. Presence of a high level of insulin in the body can increase hunger, for which some diabetic patients can start eating more. An increase in appetite can sometimes result in weight gain. However, some individuals with diabetes can lose weight in spite of eating more than usual.

Nerve Damage

Nerve damage is one of the most important diabetes symptoms in women and men. Nerves, especially the nerves of the peripheral nervous system can be damaged by consistently high levels of glucose. This is termed as diabetic neuropathy. Damage to the peripheral nervous system can manifest in tingling and numbness in legs, feet, hands and the fingers and toes.

Recurrent Infection and Slow Healing of Wounds

A high level of blood sugar can also slow down the healing of wounds. Along with this, some men with diabetes can get recurrent infections. These two are considered as the warning signs of diabetes or a high level of blood sugar.

Vision Changes

Blurred vision or vision changes can be a common complaint among individuals with high blood sugar level. When the level of blood sugar is consistently high, sugar can accumulate in the lens of the eye and damage the blood vessels of the retina. This condition is known as diabetic retinopathy, which if left untreated can lead to blindness.

Erectile Dysfunction

An important symptom of diabetes observed in men is erectile dysfunction. Diabetes and a high level of blood glucose can slowly damage the nerves and the blood vessels of the penis. This eventually can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Other Symptoms

Apart from the above mentioned symptoms, a few additional diabetes symptoms can be observed in some individuals. These symptoms include, dry mouth, headaches, swollen, red and tender gums and development of dark skin patches on the neck, armpit and the groin (acanthosis nigricans).

Treatment for Diabetes

Diabetes is treated or managed with medications and lifestyle and dietary changes. Insulin is the conventional treatment option for type 1 diabetes. For type 2 diabetes treatment, medications like, sulfonylureas, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, D-phenylalanine derivatives can be recommended, along with insulin. One should follow a healthy diet that includes fiber rich foods and fruits and vegetables, and exercise regularly, along with taking the medications recommended by the physician. At the same time, it is important to reduce the amount of sugary foods and animal fats in the diet.

So, this was a brief overview of diabetes symptoms in men, as well as diabetes causes and treatment. Hope this article provided the required information about the symptoms of diabetes in men, which one should know to recognize this condition. Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes can lead to serious complications, so prompt treatment is advisable.