Medically reviewed by
Dr Sarah Catford
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a problem with the body’s ability to regulate sugar levels in the blood, due to low levels or low action of insulin. People with diabetes have hyperglycaemia .
How common is diabetes?
The most common types of diabetes are Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus.
One in 18 Australian males (5.5%) has diabetes. Rates of Type I and Type II diabetes are higher in Australian men than women.
Type II diabetes affects about 1 in 24 Australians, and around 1 in 167 Australians have Type I diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is almost three times higher than in other Australians.
People living in rural and remote parts of Australia have higher rates of diabetes than people living in major cities, and low socioeconomic areas have higher rates than high socioeconomic areas.
The proportion of people in Australia with Type I diabetes is fairly stable, but the rate of Type II diabetes has increased from 3.3% in 2001 to 5.5%. Your risk of Type II diabetes increases as you age.
Symptoms of diabetes
Causes of diabetes
In people with Type I diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are progressively destroyed by the body’s own immune system. The cause of Type I diabetes is not known, but a genetic contribution is involved.
Having a mum or dad, or a sister or brother with Type I diabetes, makes you 15 times more likely to get Type I diabetes than if you don’t, however, there is no family history for more than 85% of children who develop the disease.
In people with Type II diabetes, insulin doesn’t work properly. The combination of ‘insulin resistance’ (i.e. insulin not working properly), and a decrease in insulin over time, often occurs because of a lack of exercise, poor diet and obesity.
Some of the risk factors for type II diabetes are beyond your control, such as family history, ethnicity, sex, age and social conditions.
There are factors associated with diabetes that are specific to men:
Around 10% of men with erectile dysfunction have undiagnosed diabetes
The lower your testosterone level, the higher your likelihood of developing diabetes.
Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of developing diabetes, and having diabetes can also put you at risk of becoming lonely or socially isolated because of the restrictions it might place on your lifestyle.
Treatment for diabetes
Not everyone’s diabetes is the same, so treatment needs to be tailored to suit each person with the disease. Some people’s diabetes can be managed with diet and exercise, whereas others will need medication for the rest of their lives.
Health effects of diabetes
Diabetes affects most cells, tissues and organs in the body, so there are many bad effects on your health if your diabetes is not well managed.
Men with diabetes have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction than men with normal blood glucose control. About two out of three men with Type II diabetes, and one in three men with Type I diabetes, develop erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone levels tend to be lower in men with diabetes than in those without, which can affect energy levels, sex drive and mood.
What to do about diabetes
If you have any symptoms of diabetes, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. It’s best not to wait and see if the symptoms go away on their own because the sooner you get control of your diabetes, the better.
Taking care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and being active is not only an effective way to avoid diabetes, but it is an important part of treatment.
Sticking to your diabetes management plan and keeping your appointments with your healthcare providers will help prevent the progression of your diabetes and your risk of it causing other health problems.
