Diabetes: Why Men Can’t Stay Silent Anymore

Historically speaking, men tend to be less comfortable talking about their health. Studies show that men especially have problems acknowledging conditions like diabetes, erectile dysfunction and depression. These are one of the reasons that a man’s average lifespan is shorter than a woman’s. It’s a trend that health care providers have been working to change through events like Men’s Health Month.

According to experts, the no.1 reason men choose to sweep their health issues under the rug is the fear of receiving bad news from their doctor. Many men still feel uncomfortable facing this scenario as they don’t want to show vulnerability.

For men who have developed diabetes, experts claim that a lack of understanding about their condition is still a major barrier to long-term health. Other issues include:

• An unwillingness to alter lifestyle habits for diabetes
• Lack of access to good health care
• Lacking the funds to schedule a doctor consultation
• Limited time to visit a doctor

What Happens When Diabetes is Ignored?

If you choose to ignore a condition like diabetes, the implications can be deadly. Diabetes can lead to:

• Heart disease – the leading health risk for men
• Kidney damage – includes renal impairment and eventually kidney failure
• Nerve damage – half of all diabetics suffer nerve damage also called diabetic neuropathy

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also a problem that affects many men with diabetes. This disorder blocks the airway when the mouth and throat relax during sleep. Studies have shown that male diabetics are at greater risk for OSA and it can cause symptoms you’re already familiar with.

Does your husband have a snore that can wake you from your deepest slumber? It could actually be obstructive sleep apnea. This is something to ask your doctor about as OSA can increase your risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart attacks if left untreated.

Diabetes Can Also Cause Sexual Dysfunction

It’s not unheard of for diabetes to cause sexual issues like erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence. How does this happen? Unmanaged diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the penis leading to an inability to get or maintain an erection. Medications taken for hypertension, heartburn and even stomach ulcers can also cause ED.

A man’s lifestyle habits could also be contributing to his erectile dysfunction. These include:

• Smoking regularly
• Being overweight
• Not getting any exercise

There are also psychological factors which could be contributing to your ED:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Guilt
• Low self-esteem
• Fear of sexual failure

Be a Man and Take Charge of Your Health

As you can tell, there are several things that you can do (starting now!) to take charge of your health and diabetes (if you have been diagnosed with it). The symptoms are often easy to miss, but these tips are beneficial for all men:

1. Find a doctor that you really like and can trust. It’s really essential to feel like you can have an open conversation with your healthcare provider.
2. Find that friend or family member who will be your healthy habit partner. Studies have shown that adopting new healthy habits can be easier if you have a good friend who does it with you.
3. Work on modifying your eating habits by using portion control. Make slower adjustments so that it’s easier to stick to your new meal plan.
4. Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and don’t skip appointments. Routine visits are an important part of managing diabetes over the long run.

Although Men’s Health Month is coming to an end, we’d like to ask all diabetics to take steps to get more active this summer and educate yourself further about what it means to live well with diabetes.