Diabetes Symptoms in Men That Appear on the Penis, Often Unnoticed
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Diabetes is a chronic disease whose prevalence continues to rise in various countries, including Indonesia. This condition occurs when blood sugar levels are too high because the body cannot produce or use insulin effectively.
Although anyone can develop diabetes, the disease presents some unique symptoms in men. These symptoms often appear gradually, so many people do not notice them.
According to Medical News Today, diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction, genital yeast infections, and loss of muscle mass.
Many effects of diabetes are similar between the sexes. The condition causes damage to blood vessels and nerves.
However, the main differences when diabetes occurs in men are as follows:
Erectile dysfunction: Up to 75 percent of men with diabetes experience difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. Nerves and blood vessels are vital to the erection process, and damage to these systems can affect penile function.
Genital thrush: Men can experience recurrent cases of genital thrush, a yeast infection. Excess sugar in the blood is excreted through urine. However, yeast thrives on sugar and is more likely to grow on the penis of men with diabetes. Symptoms of genital thrush include redness, swelling, and itching around the head of the penis; an unpleasant odour; a white, lumpy appearance of the penile skin; and pain or discomfort during sex.
Decreased muscle mass: Persistently high blood sugar levels can cause the body to break down muscle and fat for energy. This is more common in men with type 1 diabetes and results in decreased strength and muscle weakness.
A 2016 study published in BMJ Open found that men have a higher risk of diabetes after experiencing relatively less weight gain compared to women. The research analysed 480,813 participants. The authors found that men’s body size was more variable than women’s at the time of their diabetes diagnosis.
The 2016 study also measured waist circumference, which has become a preferred indicator of health risk.
The results showed:
Men with type 2 diabetes had a waist circumference 9 cm larger than men without the condition. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) was also 3 points higher.
Women would receive a type 2 diabetes diagnosis after an average increase in waist circumference of 14 cm, or a BMI increase of 5.
One way to interpret this study is to say that men may develop diabetes more easily than women and at a more predictable stage of fat gain.
Results from a 2011 study published in the journal Diabetologia were similar. Men with diabetes in that sample had lower obesity levels at the time of diagnosis compared to women.
The lower fat threshold in men was most evident at younger ages. Older men and women with a diabetes diagnosis had more similar body sizes.
A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more indicates obesity. The 2011 study found that around the time of type 2 diabetes diagnosis, men had an average BMI just below 32. Women had an average close to 34.
This means that women typically have a higher BMI level than men when they develop diabetes.
A woman can have a waist circumference five times larger than a man before developing diabetes.
Besides the diabetes symptoms that only men experience, general diabetes symptoms can occur in men and women of all ages.
These symptoms include:
increased thirst and hunger
more frequent urination
increased frequency of urination at night
fatigue
blurred vision
in type 2 diabetes, cuts or scratches that do not heal
in type 1 diabetes, excessive weight loss before diagnosis
Over time, complications can develop as a result of long-term high blood sugar levels. This condition can cause damage to various body systems, including:
eye problems, such as diabetic retinopathy
foot problems
stroke and heart attack
nephropathy, or kidney problems
neuropathy, or nerve damage
certain cancers
diabetic ketoacidosis, a buildup of compounds called ketones that can be fatal if a person does not receive prompt treatment
Treatment for diabetes complications is often the first time a person learns they have the condition, and this can be very dangerous.