Men with diabetes suffer with diabetes-related complications differently than women. And one of the diabetes-related complications that men fear most is erectile dysfunction. Diabetes increases the risk of erectile dysfunction or impotence due to the damage to the nerves and muscles of the male reproductive organ.

There are other parts of the body that malfunction because of diabetes-related complications.

1) Vision

Ocular manifestations of diabetes-related complications are diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Men with diabetes for more than 10 years are at risk of having these disorders.

– Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disorder affecting diabetics. The damage on the blood vessels of the retina causes obstructed vision.

– Cataract is also one of the leading vision complications of diabetics. This occurs when the optical lenses become cloudy.

– Glaucoma is a condition of excessive pressure on the eye causing blurry vision, peripheral vision loss, or blindness.

2) Mouth

Diabetes-related complications in the mouth are gum gingivitis, periodontitis and thrush. These complications are the results of too much glucose in the saliva or gum infections due to the lack of proteins which help treat gum tissues.

– Gingivitis and periodontitis are two gum infections common in diabetics which can cause tooth loss and decay. Treatment options should be consulted with a dentist

– Thrush is a yeast infection of the tongue. Candida Albicans also known as yeast normally lives in our mouths however, too much growth can cause an infection. The yeasts feed on the glucose present in the saliva. Too much glucose in the saliva will mean too much nourishment for the microorganisms. An anti-fungal treatment is the usual option.

3) Brain

This is usually a complication of type-2 diabetes. Abnormal level of blood sugar affects the brain directly. Common brain disorders of diabetics are Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

– Alzheimer’s disease. This is a cruel disease that mostly affects elderly. Impaired glucose metabolism plays a big part on the tiny clots of the brain.

– Dementia. This affects the normal functions of the brain such as memory and speech. Small strokes in the brain causes brain tissue damage which prevents nutrients to reach the brain such as oxygen.

4) Hands, Arms and Legs

The feeling of tingling, numbness, or pain in the extremities such as hands, arms and feet are common signs of neuropathy. Up to 70 percent of people with diabetes will develop some type of neuropathy, making it one of the most common side effects of this disease.

Not all of diabetes-related complications are a matter of life and death. However, almost all of them do not only affect physical but also emotional health. These complications may prevent you from functioning properly.

Diabetes is something that you can live with. Though, in the absence of medication and treatment, it can be fatal to ignore the disease, modern day medical treatment often has ways in which you can carry on with your life with some adjustments on your part. The first thing that you should learn to do is living with the thought that you have diabetes.

There is no need to panic and worry and as long as you are following the recommendations of the doctors, you can continue with your activities. Your family and close friends can be the best sources of support to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.