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Diabetes Statistics in Men

The prevalence of complications in men with diabetes is significantly higher than in men without diabetes. According to the 2006 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists report, The State of Diabetes Complications in America, 7.9% of men with diabetes experienced congestive heart failure compared to 1.4% of those with normal blood sugar. The prevalence of chest pain, heart attack, and coronary heart disease were all 3 to 6% higher in men with diabetes than in men without, and 6.8% of men with diagnosed diabetes suffered stroke compared to 1.5% of men with normal blood sugar levels.

Men with diabetes also face special concerns like impotence (not being able to have or keep an erection). Men with diabetes can help prevent impotence by:

• Controlling blood sugar levels.
• Not worrying (fear of becoming impotent can sometimes be the cause).
• Not drinking large amounts of alcohol, which can cause impotence.
• Not smoking (smoking causes blood vessels to narrow, which can lead to impotence).

Partially excerpted from “What Do You Know about Men's Health? Diabetes in Men” from the National Women's Health Information Center

Reviewed by Francine Kaufman, MD. 4/08