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Diabetes is one of the most prevalent health conditions in the United States, with studies reporting that over 37.3 million of the adult population are affected by this condition as of 2022.
This health condition is marked by problems in the body regulating blood glucose levels.
Normally, the body absorbs sugars in the food and converts it into energy. The sugar is typically converted through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.
When too much blood sugar remains in the bloodstream, that’s when the conditions for diabetes are likely to occur.
This can happen in two ways. The first is when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to help stabilize the blood sugar levels (type 1 diabetes).
Alternatively, and about 90% more commonly, it can also occur when the cells in the body are unable to appropriately respond to insulin—a phenomenon known as insulin resistance commonly found in patients with type 2 diabetes.
When left untreated, this can elevate health risk factors such as kidney disease, metabolic disorder, and visual impairment—just to name a few. Furthermore, the risk of mortality is also non-zero, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 13.62 per 100,000 as of 2020.
Detecting signs of diabetes in men is crucial for managing the condition. Many symptoms of diabetes like erectile dysfunction can overlap with other conditions, so it’s important to get a proper diabetes diagnosis with a medical professional.
With that said, here are some diabetes symptoms in men that you should be aware of to mitigate the risk of fatality.
5 Signs of Diabetes in Men: Common Diabetes Risk Factors
Here are some of the common signs of diabetes in men.
1. High Blood Pressure
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure and type two diabetes have a tight association.
The reason for this link lies in the increased likelihood of HBP patients also having insulin resistance.
When the body can’t convert sugar regularly, this can cause vascular damage in the blood vessels. This damage can cause the vessels to stiffen and narrow, impairing blood flow and increasing the risk of a slew of chronic health conditions, with HBP being one of them.
In many cases, there are no physical symptoms of high blood pressure, entailing the need for external medical intervention like blood pressure monitors. A BP reading higher than 120/80 is a sign of prehypertension or hypertension.
Visiting a medical professional annually is necessary if your readings fall beyond average or if you have a family history of hypertension.
2. Frequent Thirst and Urination
Two common signs of high blood sugar in the body are frequent thirst and, subsequently, urination.
When there are high blood sugar levels in the body, this excess sugar can make its way into one’s kidneys. This can cause the kidney to work harder than normal to expel sugar away from the body in the form of urine.
In fact, it’s more common for men to experience frequent urination and increased urinary urgency during the nighttime.
Consequently, it’s normal for people to feel more thirsty as patients have an increased risk of being dehydrated. Furthermore, dry mouth and less saliva are also possible symptoms that may arise due to diabetes complications.
3. Erectile Dysfunction
If you consistently have trouble getting erections, it may be time to take an ED test to determine if you have a classic case of erectile dysfunction.
Medically speaking, erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a man is unable to get and keep an erection from forming.
While it is possible to achieve harder erections and improve sexual performance, this dysfunction can be caused by a variety of health problems, ranging from the psychological to the physical. And one common cause in that extensive list is type 2 diabetes.
An erection forms when there’s enough blood entering the penis. Erectile dysfunction can signal blood vessel damage in the body, causing great difficulty for blood to flow through the penis.
If you’ve developed a sudden onset of erectile dysfunction, it can be a sign of underlying diabetes ravaging your blood vessels. High blood pressure can also increase the risk of ED. Besides hindering your sex life, it can also cause further health problems in the long run.
Contact a local ED clinic in Fort Lauderdale that specializes in sexual dysfunction who can provide a treatment plan for your unique medical background and condition.
4. Blurry Vision
Another unlikely but telling sign of diabetes in men is blurry vision. Diabetes can cause swelling to happen in the eyes, a phenomenon known as diabetic retinopathy.
This results in reduced blood flow and, eventually, an impaired ability to focus and reduced ocular vision.
Men can suffer from permanent vision loss if they don’t properly address their eye nerve damage.
As such, it’s important to detect the early signs of diabetes mellitus and turn to a healthy lifestyle to reduce these health problems.
5. Fast Loss of Body Weight
If you’re finding yourself experiencing sudden weight loss faster than normal, it’s likely because you’re developing diabetes.
Diabetics are unable to convert sugar into usable energy, causing an excessive amount of sugar to float around the bloodstream.
The body still needs energy to operate its daily functions, and if there’s a lack of it in the form of sugar, it’ll search for it in other ways—notably through your muscle and fat stores.
This, in turn, can lead to people losing weight quicker than normal, even if you’re eating ample amounts of a healthy diet.
How to Address Diabetes: Natural Remedies
Diabetes-related problems are not curable; however, they can be managed with the right lifestyle choices.
Here are some natural habits you can consider adopting to deal with diabetes effectively:
- Eat healthily: Avoid eating too much sugar and instead incorporate healthy food into your diet like lean meat, vegetables, and fruits.
- Take medications regularly: Follow your doctor’s advice and take prescribed meds as recommended.
- Manage stress: Avoid overexerting yourself and keep stressful activities to a minimum as much as possible.
- Exercise consistently: Regular exercise can improve insulin sensitivity.
Furthermore, if you have underlying health problems that are contributing to diabetes, consider talking with a medical specialist to address these health concerns directly.
Consult Ft. Lauderdale, Florida’s Top Male Medical Center
Make no mistake, diabetes can spiral if left untreated. Fortunately, there are medically-approved ways to manage it.
Overcome the symptoms of erectile dysfunction that may be due to diabetes with medical guidance from the local ED specialists at Preferred Men’s Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale.
Besides ED treatment, our men’s health clinic also offers male-centric treatment options such as PE treatment, testosterone therapy, hormone therapy, sound wave therapy, and more—all of which can help to improve your sex life.
Schedule an appointment with us today, your initial consultation and first treatment are completely free.