Whilst diabetes usually manifests with the same major symptoms for everyone, there can be significant variations in its presentation between men and women. Diagnosis and treatment can also be impacted by gendered attitudes to illness. To ensure the condition is recognised promptly and managed effectively, it is important to understand and adapt to the different ways the condition can manifest, including the most common diabetes symptoms in men.
Why does diabetes present differently in men and women?
Men have different diabetes risk factors than women. Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity, but men may begin to show signs of diabetes at a lower weight than an average woman. This is because they are more likely to store fat in the abdomen rather than other areas of the body. Diabetes can also be impacted by hormone levels, including sex hormones such as testosterone. Testosterone is often lower in men with diabetes.
What are the early signs of diabetes in men?
Some of the early signs of diabetes in men are the same regardless of sex. These include ongoing thirstiness, increased urination, fatigue and weight loss. Weight loss can be particularly pronounced in men, particularly those with type 1 diabetes, because of the way that the body starts to break down muscle mass for extra energy, which can also result in a loss of physical strength.
Other signs that are often considered specifically “male” diabetes symptoms relate to penile and sexual health, as diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction and infections such as thrush. Many symptoms do have other potential causes, or may be aggravated by other factors, so it is important to talk to your doctor for a full evaluation and accurate diagnosis.
What about in the long term?
In the long term, men may be more likely to develop kidney problems or heart attacks than women, but women are more likely to experience severe heart disease. Again, however, these can be influenced by a range of other genetic and lifestyle factors. For example, the way diabetes intersects with hormonal issues around the menopause or conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome are greater concerns for women.
Which diabetes symptoms are more common in men?
One of the symptoms most likely to affect men in particular is erectile dysfunction, which is three times more likely than in men without the condition. It is particularly common in those with type 2 diabetes. This is because of the way that high blood sugar can harm your small blood vessels. A lack of adequate blood supply can cause nerve damage.
If these blood vessels and nerves connect to the penis, it can limit blood flow and reduce sensation, making it harder to become aroused. This can be aggravated by the stress of trying to manage diabetes and its symptoms, as mindset can also impact arousal. Other causes of erectile dysfunction include heart problems, kidney problems and low testosterone, some of which are also more likely if you have diabetes.
Certain types of infection, including urinary tract infection (UTI), thrush and penile foreskin infections can also be male diabetes symptoms. This may happen when excess blood sugar is expelled in urine, or because nerve damage has reduced bladder control, leading to urine retention. This also contributes to an increased risk of kidney issues. These kinds of infection may cause discolouration, itchiness or swelling around the penis, unpleasant odours, or interfere with your sex life.
How psychosocial factors impact diagnosis and treatment
Male diabetes symptoms and risk factors are not the only variables that lead to men and women experiencing diabetes differently. Men are also less inclined to go to the doctor when they show the early signs of illness, particularly with issues relating to sexual health, such as erectile dysfunction. This may lead to a delay in diagnosis that allows symptoms to become more severe.
There is no single, hard rule about how diabetes manifests in men as compared to women. Certain aspects may be more or less likely, and these should be considered as part of the diagnosis and management process, but there are many other factors that can impact how diabetes develops, and non-typical presentations do occur. Awareness is an important starting point, but management requires an individualised approach, tailored to each patient.
FAQs
Are men more at risk of developing diabetes than women?
Slightly, because certain risk factors impact men more than women. Whilst obesity can increase the likelihood of developing diabetes whether you are male or female, men are more likely to have high levels of abdominal fat. This often leads to early signs of diabetes in men emerging at a lower weight than would be usual in women. Variations in hormones can also change both the risk level and presentation.
How is diabetes linked to erectile dysfunction?
The link between diabetes and erectile dysfunction is primarily a result of the damage diabetes can cause to blood vessels and nerves. These are essential to supplying blood to the penis and ensuring it is sensitive to stimulation. If they are not functioning correctly, then it may be harder to trigger arousal. Other factors include mindset, particularly stress, cardiovascular issues such as high cholesterol, and kidney problems.
How do you minimise the risk of developing erectile dysfunction and other diabetes symptoms in men?
You can minimise the risk of erectile dysfunction and other male diabetes symptoms, such as UTIs, thrush and loss of muscle mass, in the same way you manage other aspects of your condition. You monitor your blood sugar levels and attend regular medical checkups with particular focus on the risks associated with diabetes. You take your medication. You generally live a healthy lifestyle, with a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, a reduced alcohol intake and no smoking. These will all make it easier to manage your blood sugar, reduce symptoms and lower the risk of developing other conditions.
