Type 2 Diabetes - The Effect Diabetes Has On Men

Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes is not an equal opportunity offender. Although the disease does do a number on women and their overall health, it is men who reap the worst repercussions as a result of having diabetes and unstable blood sugar levels.

Starting with the head and working down to the feet, you can see vision is acutely affected by diabetes due to high and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. There are several conditions that appear to advance more rapidly in diabetic men than diabetic women. One is retinopathy, which is a vision disorder as a direct result of diabetes. Retinopathy is the enlargement, breakage, or leaking of tiny blood vessels in the eye, which can spill blood into the eyeball and threaten vision. Once this condition sets in, men tend to progress into blindness faster than women.

The brain is more susceptible to disaster too. The likelihood of stroke or strokes are higher for men. Adding high cholesterol and elevated triglycerides, or fat in the blood, to this problem only makes it more probable. Let's not forget high blood pressure. It goes hand in hand with obesity, cholesterol and low activity.

Traveling to the heart we see the increased opportunity for health issues. Since men are more prone to heart disease, it goes without saying they need to focus more attention on keeping this area as healthy and fit as possible. In fact, studies show if a man is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before the age of 60, they are two and a half times more likely to suffer from a heart attack than non-diabetic men of the same age.

When you get to the midsection, things get serious. For a man, it comes down to impotence. There is a direct correlation between out of control blood sugar levels and erectile dysfunction (ED). The condition can appear even in the early stages of diabetes, but the chances of acquiring it, dramatically increase as you age. Since the causes are due to impaired blood flow, nerve damage and muscle function, it is imperative to keep these areas in check through proper diet and exercise. Also, maintaining a healthy weight is ideal for making sure this doesn't become an issue.

Lastly, it all comes down to circulation. Men seem to have a much higher rate of limb amputation due to poor circulation, than women. In fact, statistically, men are between two and three times more likely to need amputation of their feet or legs as a result of circulation restriction and/or nerve damage. This is where getting up and moving around can benefit. Any form of activity up to and including exercise will keep this debilitating action at bay.

Men... keeping yourself healthy and controlling your blood sugar through..


•stress-reduction techniques,
•a balanced diet, and
•regular exercise,


Is the best bet to reduce or avoid these complications of Type 2 diabetes.