Assumptions

“Not all fat people get diabetes, and not all diabetics are fat.” (Chris Kresser)

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (also known as Type 2 Diabetes, or abbreviated as T2D) develops after age forty, but has recently begun to appear with more frequency in children. If a person is diagnosed with T2D, their pancreas still produces insulin. The body does not produce enough of it, or is unable to use it effectively.

Those diagnosed with T2D manage their disease through a combination of treatments, which include diet control, exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and in some cases oral drugs or insulin. Men with T2D can face unique challenges (that women don’t have).

 Males develop diabetes slightly more often than women do. In fact, 13.6[i]percent of adult men in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes, which compares to11.2 percent of women. Since men tend to avoid talking about their health, they also tend to be less healthy than women over the course of their lifetimes. Here’s what a man needs to know about protecting himself when managing T2D.

1.   Erectile dysfunction (ED): Men with T2D are three times more likely to experience ED than men who don't have it. ED can happen when high blood sugar damages small blood vessels or nerves, which can affect a man’s ability to get an erection.

 Also, some T2D medications can cause sexual side effects like ED. Addressing ED as soon as symptoms begin is the best way to increase the likelihood of improving the condition.

2.   Low testosterone: A drop in testosterone can cause symptoms such as low energy, muscle loss, depression, and sexual problems, including low libido and erectile dysfunction (ED). Your doctor can check your testosterone level and treat you if you have a problem.

 

3.   Urologic issues: High blood sugar can also cause damage to the nerves that control your bladder. As a result, you may be at risk for urological problems like an overactive bladder and urinary tract infections. Men with T2D can also experience urine retention, in which nerve damage leads to incomplete or infrequent urination. It can affect your quality of life and may also cause kidney damage over time.

How to improve your health:

1. Eating a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains
2. Avoiding excess sugar and calories
3. Quitting smoking
4. Getting exercise. Walking for just thirty minutes a day can make a tremendous impact on your ability to manage your blood sugar successfully.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight. Losing just a few pounds can have a significant impact on blood sugar. A realistic goal with big health rewards: Trying to lose two to three pounds per year instead of gaining two to three pounds per year.

“I have high blood sugars, and Type 2 Diabetes is not going to kill me. But I just have to eat right, and exercise, and lose weight, and watch what I eat, and I will be fine for the rest of my life. (Tom Hanks)[ii]

 

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[i]At the age of forty-one (in 2004), I was diagnosed as T2D.

 

[ii] Sources used:

·        “Diabetes Mellitus Type 2” from Wikipedia

·        “What Is Type 2 Diabetes? (http://donate.jdrf.org/info/jdrf-qa/?gclid=CjwKCAiAr_TQBRB5EiwAC_QCq8xqOXJa_tI7oLJB86sRAulaHLPtnF5R-PAlq9eUeay1mByhZZjgeRoCUt4QAvD_BwE#about)

·        “What Men Need to Know About Type 2 Diabetes” by Marie Suszynski