Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Men
Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD
Diabetes is a condition that causes an imbalance in blood sugar due to problems with how the body makes or responds to the hormone insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, and symptoms can develop within weeks. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't respond normally to insulin, and symptoms can develop gradually.
Many symptoms of diabetes occur in both men and women. However, some symptoms, such as erectile dysfunction, are unique to men. Knowing diabetes symptoms in men can help you or your loved get any necessary care.
This article focuses on people who were born with a male reproductive system. Health realizes not everyone who identifies as a man has these organs and that not everyone with these organs identifies as a man, but to accurately depict research, we are using the term "men" throughout.
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Early Symptoms
Early symptoms of diabetes may happen within a few weeks or months of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can be severe. Type 2 diabetes symptoms, on the other hand, can be milder. The symptoms may also take longer to develop. Because of this, type 2 diabetes symptoms may go unnoticed or unchecked.
It's important to know the early warning signs of diabetes so you can get the care you need. Early symptoms of diabetes in men—which are similar for anyone with diabetes—include:
Frequent urination: This is known as polyuria. Increased urination at night is known as nocturnal polyuria. Men might think there's a prostate issue to blame for this symptom, but the high blood sugar in diabetes can cause it too. The kidneys can't reabsorb all of the sugar, so the sugar ends up being lost in the urine, pulling water into the urine with it so you have to urinate more.
Thirst: Also known as polydipsia, extreme thirst is due to fluid loss in the urine.
Hunger: Also known as polyphagia, extreme hunger even though you've eaten is related to the body's inability to use blood sugar for energy.
Fatigue: Extreme tiredness is related to the body's inability to use and store sugar appropriately as well as dehydration.
Unintended weight loss: People with diabetes might lose weight without having done anything to try. The weight loss is partially related to fluid loss in the urine. It's also related to the body's inability to store glucose (sugar), which causes a breakdown of muscle and fat.
Vision changes: Blurred vision can happen when blood sugar levels are high.
Skin changes: Dry skin, darkened patches in the armpits or back of the neck, or skin wounds or bruises that take longer to heal are all potential signs of diabetes.
Frequent infections: Because diabetes impacts the immune system, you might notice an increase in infections of the skin, bladder, or respiratory tract.
Several early symptoms can fluctuate with blood sugar levels, becoming more noticeable at times when blood sugar is higher.
Progressive Symptoms
As diabetes progresses, the early symptoms may worsen or become more noticeable. You may also develop new symptoms after months or years of having diabetes. It is during this stage of progression when diabetes symptoms specific to men might develop.
Progressive symptoms of diabetes in men include the following:
Erectile dysfunction (ED): Being unable to get or keep an erection is about 3.5 times more likely in males with diabetes than males without diabetes. The dysfunction of the nerves and blood vessels that longstanding diabetes causes plays a role in ED development.
Low testosterone: This occurs when your testicles don't make enough of the sex hormone testosterone. Men with diabetes are twice as likely to have low testosterone than men without diabetes. Low testosterone can contribute to ED. It can also cause low energy, decreased sex drive, and depressed mood.
Fertility problems: Low testosterone could lead to reduced sperm count, which can make pregnancy more difficult.
Loss of muscle mass: You might notice a decrease in muscle size and strength. This could be because your body can't properly use sugar for energy so instead breaks down muscle for energy. Lower muscle mass could also be due to the lower testosterone.
Later Symptoms
After many years of diabetes—particularly if your diabetes hasn't been diagnosed or your blood sugar has not been properly controlled—you may experience more severe symptoms. There's one symptom that can affect men in particular. Otherwise, all the symptoms can happen to someone of any sex.
Later stage symptoms of diabetes that can happen to men include:
Curvature of the penis: A condition known as Peyronie's disease can lead to a painful curve or bend in the penis during an erection. It can make sex impossible. The curve happens because scar tissue that develops under the skin of the penis tugs on the surrounding tissue during an erection. Peyronie's disease is linked with poorly controlled diabetes. Men with diabetes-associated ED are 4-5 times more likely to have Peyronie’s disease compared with people without diabetes.
Blindness: As a late stage of diabetic retinopathy, you may lose your vision.
End-stage kidney disease: This is when your kidneys fail, or no longer work, and you need dialysis or a kidney transplant. End-stage kidney disease can happen from years of poorly controlled blood sugars and may be especially likely if you also have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Nausea and vomiting: You can have these unpleasant symptoms due to gastroparesis, a condition that prevents proper stomach emptying. Diabetes is the most common cause. The condition happens when diabetes-related nerve damage in the stomach slows the rate at which the stomach empties its food contents. The delayed emptying can also cause heartburn and decreased appetite.
Gangrene: This is tissue death due to infection or lack of blood flow. In diabetes, gangrene can particularly develop in areas affected by neuropathy, such as the feet. Amputation may be necessary for treatment.
Symptoms of Severe Complications
Diabetes can cause severe complications, including dangerously high blood sugar levels and cardiovascular (heart- and blood vessel-related) issues. These life-threatening complications require immediate medical attention, so knowing the warning signs is crucial.
Symptoms of Dangerously High Blood Sugar
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) are conditions you can develop when blood sugar levels are dangerously high. With DKA, you also have too much of a chemical called ketones in your blood. With HHS, you don't have high ketones, but your blood sugar is even higher than with DKA.
Symptoms include those of high blood sugar, such as frequent urination and excessive thirst, as well as:
Weight loss
Weakness
Fruity-smelling breath
Rapid heart rate
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Confusion
Symptoms of Cardiovascular Complications
Diabetes increases the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. This plaque can rupture, creating a blood clot that blocks blood flow. Heart attack and stroke occur suddenly with blockages in blood flow to the heart or brain, respectively.
In men, the classic symptom of a heart attack is pressure or discomfort in the center of the chest that radiates up to the neck, jaw, and arm, often with shortness of breath and a sensation of anxiety. However, people with diabetes may have more subtle heart attack symptoms, like lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, which can make the event harder to recognize.
Stroke symptoms include the following:
Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body
Drooping of the left or right side of the face
Difficulty speaking
Confusion
Trouble balancing or walking
Heart attack or stroke can occur at any time in the course of diabetes. However, the complications' risk increases with age and the amount of time you have lived with diabetes. Having poorly controlled diabetes and other risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure further increases the risk.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you develop any symptoms of diabetes, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Because symptoms of diabetes are similar to those of many other conditions, a healthcare provider can best determine the underlying cause.
They may order a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. Confirm ahead of time whether you should go to the appointment in a fasting state, meaning you have not eaten for several hours. This is required for many blood tests that check your blood glucose.
If you develop symptoms of severe complications of diabetes, get immediate medical help. Time is of the essence when treating life-threatening conditions like DKA.
Questions To Ask Your Provider
If you have symptoms of diabetes, consider asking the following questions at your next appointment. While certain symptoms may seem embarrassing, your healthcare provider has experience managing these symptoms and won't be phased. They also must keep your health information confidential:
Could my erectile dysfunction be related to diabetes or another condition?
What lifestyle and medical treatments do you recommend to help get my blood sugar under control?
Will controlling my blood sugar help with my symptoms?
What can I do to prevent worsening of my symptoms?
A Quick Review
Diabetes is a condition that makes your blood sugar levels too high. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes share similar symptoms. Men and women can experience many of the same symptoms, but there are some symptoms of diabetes exclusive to men.
Erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, fertility problems, loss of muscle mass, and curvature of the penis are some of the potential symptoms of diabetes in men. Men might also experience the classic early signs of diabetes like frequent urination and extreme thirst, hunger, and tiredness.
If you suspect any symptoms you may be experiencing are due to diabetes, reach out to a healthcare provider. They can diagnose the problem or, if you've already been diagnosed with diabetes, adjust your management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first signs of diabetes in men?
The early signs of diabetes are no different in men and women. These include extreme hunger, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unusual tiredness. Later on, men can develop low testosterone and erectile dysfunction related to diabetes.
At what age do most men get diabetes?
Men can get diabetes at any age. Type 1 diabetes tends to occur at younger ages, whereas type 2 diabetes risk increases with age. Type 2 diabetes is more common in men older than 45 years.
What can mimic diabetes?
Several symptoms of diabetes are nonspecific, meaning there are many possible causes. For example, frequent urination is a common symptom in diabetes, but urinary tract infection and enlarged prostate can also cause this symptom. Fatigue is another diabetes symptom with many potential causes, such as thyroid problems, low blood counts, or infection.
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