Symptoms of diabetes in men
We recently received the below message from one of our Diabetic South Africans, asking about the symptoms of diabetes in men. Remember that the symptoms of diabetes are the same in men and women: there are 5 common symptoms.
- Extreme hunger
- Extreme thirst
- Needing to pee a lot, especially at night
- Exhaustion
- Blurry vision
Message from our community member
Hi,
I am just very worried about my brother-in-law – his feet are paining something terrible, he says.
He has been to a GP (this had been for about a month or so), they sent him for X-rays and said the results are no blood flow from the knees down to feet. He is a Type 2 diabetic (he is on tablet medication) – could this be diabetic related and what can be done?
Thanks!
– Delia Brookes
Neuropathy and erectile dysfunction: symptoms of diabetes complications in men
It’s helpful to point out two really common diabetes complications in men: neuropathy (which causes pain in the feet) and erectile dysfunction. Find out about neuropathy here, and erectile dysfunction here. Even if you are experiencing diabetes complications, there is still hope – you can turn your diabetes around and live a perfectly normal, healthy, happy life with diabetes.
The most important thing is to take control of your life. You can do this by changing your diet, losing weight if necessary and getting active. Remember, also, that it’s important to take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribes. We encourage people to remember TEEL:
Remember, you are not alone in this journey! Please join us on Diabetic South Africans on Facebook so that you can meet other men and women living well with diabetes in South Africa. We’re all in this together! We all have something to learn from each other, so that we can live our best lives.
Hi Delia,
It sounds like your brother-in-law is battling with poor blood circulation, which would lead to pain in the feet and lower legs, and also numbness in the feet.
Poor blood circulation is most definitely related to diabetes – it’s great that he’s going to see a specialist so soon, just be sure he tells the specialist that he’s diabetic, how long he’s had diabetes and what medication he’s on.
Let us know how it goes, please!
Yes it might well be diabetes related and he is doing the right thing going to seek sprcialist advice. Best of luck
From email:
Hi, I am also seeing a Vascular Surgeon on the same day same problem. Let’s talk after the consultation.
Regards.
Willie Belelie
From Facebook (Diabetic South Africans):
Hi i am a type 1 diabetic and the problem i have with my legs are that they swell so bad that i can’t stand on my feet and i was told it is from the sugar. The best is he must go see the specialist he could lose his legs.
– Elaine Boshoff
From Facebook (Diabetic South Africans):
Yes, sore feet are a major problem…I find that if I have cold-drinks like diet coke, my feet ache terribly the next morning. Also found taking magnesium tablets helps.
– Christa Van Der Walt
From email:
Yes this is definitely related to the Type 2 Diabetes, but I can’t help you more than what you have already done by having gone to a GP, maybe a Nurse Educator might be better in fact.
Hi Delia
This is a Diabetes related problem and is very common
He does need to see a neurologist,but can try some simple things
Wrap the feet at night in glad wrap as this sometimes helps with the pain as it is always worse at night and very troublesome
There are other simple things that can be tried,but please keep appointment with neurologist
Hope this helps a little
Regards
Lyn Starck
Hi Delia,
The trip to the neurologist/specialist is a must. I have the same condition and am also diabetic. It is a form of peripheral neuropathy or degenration of the nervous system in the feet/legs – put simply. Results due to high glucose levels over an extended period damaging nerve endings, veins etc.
Control of blood sugar levels is critical and then I hear treatments are available to stop and assist in healing. Diet and exercise also play key roles. I am seeing specialist next week, hope it helps and good luck.
Uron Mohan