Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has affected millions of people worldwide. While this disorder often occurs in older individuals or those with a family history of diabetes, it is increasingly common among men of all ages. The early signs of T2D may not be obvious, but detecting them before the condition becomes complicated can be very helpful for a better outcome. This blog will tell you how to identify the early signs of type 2 diabetes in men.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
It is a metabolic disorder that affects glucose regulation in our body. Glucose is a primary source of energy given to the cell, and insulin is a hormone that helps transfer sugar from blood to body cells, where it is then used as fuel. In type 2 diabetes either less insulin is produced, or the body becomes resistant to insulin, which means the body cells don’t respond to insulin as they should.
The presence of high blood sugar causes several issues like kidney diseases, heart disease, nerve damage, and eye problems. There is no cure, but the disease is manageable with dietary changes, weight loss, medications, and insulin therapy. Moreover, early detection devices such as the TM flow machine can lead to timely treatment, which prevents complications.
Why Men Are More Likely to Get Type 2 Diabetes?
The likelihood of Type 2 Diabetes in men is twice as compared to females. Research indicates that its onset is directly linked with the testosterone hormone. This hormone is vital for male puberty, like genital development, facial hair, and coarseness of voice. Females produce this hormone, too but in a very low amount. Testosterone also has a role in fat deposition, and the low level can cause the risk of T2D. Almost 1 in 6 males have low testosterone levels, which is why diabetes is more common in males. Conversely, a high level of testosterone causes diabetes in females.
Early Signs and Symptoms in Men
Diabetes affects each gender differently. The common diabetes symptoms in men at an early stage are:
Frequent Urination
High blood sugar means your kidneys have to work harder to absorb extra sugar, which results in frequent urination. This leads to dehydration and enhanced thirst. These two are the most common signs to watch if you think you are at risk of T2D.
Weight Loss
If the body is not getting the required glucose, it will start breaking muscles and fat to acquire energy from them, which will cause sudden weight loss even if you are eating fine. Another reason could be dehydration, which decreases weight, too.
Fatigue
Men with Type 2 diabetes may feel unusually tired or fatigued. This happens because the body’s cells are not getting enough energy to do the daily activities, which causes persistent feelings of tiredness.
Blurry Vision
High blood sugar pulls fluids from tissues and causes weakness. This also happens to eye muscles, and weakness leads to blurriness of vision. The complications can later cause diabetic retinopathy.
Mood Swings
Fluctuations in blood sugar can affect mood and make people more irritable. This can be particularly noticeable in men, who are usually emotionally stable.
Dark Skin Patches
This condition causes dark and velvety patches of skin to appear around the neck, armpits, and groin. It is often an early indicator of insulin resistance and can signal the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Risk Factors Specific to Men
There are some risk factors which contribute to the onset of T2D in men:
- Men are more likely to accumulate fat in the abdominal region.
- Low testosterone levels are linked to an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in men.
- Men with heart disease or high cholesterol are at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes.
- While Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, men over 45 are at a higher risk.
Using TM Flow Test to Detect Diabetes at an Early Stage
Even though the early signs and symptoms can give you a subtle idea about the presence of type 2 diabetes, you need to be sure because symptoms can overlap with other diseases as well. There is a test called the TM Flow test which measures insulin resistance in the body, a major reason behind the development of T2D. The TM Flow Machine uses PTG-TP markers to measure resistance against insulin without the need to withdraw blood.
Conclusion
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition, and one of the major interventions for this disease is treating it at an earlier stage. This condition has no specific cure and needs to be managed as early as possible to avoid a problem later. To manage T2D, we must know which signs can indicate its onset. This blog covers the early signs as well as the TM flow test which can diagnose type 2 diabetes at an early stage with high accuracy.
