“Yes, I got it under control.” This is a statement every man wants to say. While it is great to lead and take control of a situation, men around the world are guilty of not taking help when it is needed. This is quite true in the case of men with chronic illnesses like hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and type 1 diabetes.
A WHO report suggests that even though men enjoy better opportunities, their life expectancy is lesser when compared to women. Here are a few reasons why men have poor health outcomes:
- Men are less likely to visit a doctor till they have serious symptoms
- They are also less likely to report their symptoms to the doctor
- It is known that men are less likely to be active in their preventive care regimen
Occupational exposure, working in hazardous conditions and leading erratic lifestyles are also important contributors to poor health outcomes in men. However, neglecting symptoms, not taking active part in treatment and preventive care are major reasons for poor life expectancy.
When it comes to diabetes in men, it is important to identify symptoms early on so that many serious complications can be avoided.
A few signs of diabetes in men
- Feeling dizzy of late
- Unexplained irritability
- Feeling lethargic and extremely fatigued even in the middle of the day
- No energy at the end of the day
- Extreme tiredness with minimal exertion
- Erectile dysfunction
- Overactive bladder
- Poor dental health
- Skin infections that don’t heal
- Fuzzy vision
Factors that increase risk of type 2 diabetes
- Being overweight
- Sedentary or inactive lifestyle
- Family history of diabetes
- Age over 35 years
- Prediabetes
- Darkened skin patches
Type 2 diabetes symptoms in men
The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes in men or women often develop slowly. In fact, you might not even know that you have had diabetes for a long time until you are diagnosed. Look out for these symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Numbness in hands or feet
- Slow-healing wounds and sores
- Frequent infections
- Darkened skin on specific areas such as neck and armpits
Also, type 1 & type 2 diabetes in men is a major cause for many heart problems and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, diabetes may mask any or all symptoms of a heart attack.
Silent heart attack in diabetic men
- Even without experiencing a major chest pain or breaking out into a cold sweat, you may be still having a heart attack
- Typically, a heart attack produces extreme and sudden chest pain that also radiates to the arms, neck, shoulders, jaw, teeth, abdomen or even the back.
- Other symptoms also include shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.
Unfortunately, people with diabetes may not feel these symptoms because of diabetic neuropathy which is a nerve disease. Diabetic neuropathy also masks back pain or chest pain, which are also symptoms of a heart attack. Alert family or friend and seek medical care immediately, if you feel even the slightest of these symptoms. Paying attention to symptoms is the first step you need to take in order to improve your life. However, if you are already diagnosed with diabetes, you need work closely with your diabetes doctor, dietician, and diabetes educator in order to get the best diabetes treatment and to improve your quality of life.
