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by: JuliaHanf
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Word Count: 707

A person may very well think that the disease, diabetes, affects every diabetic the same way. This statement could not be farther from the truth at all; diabetes affects every individual differently. Things that can affect diabetes differ greatly depending upon age, race, gender, weight, lifestyle, activity level, diet, and family history.

The biggest leap in those diagnosed with diabetes seems to be in the men, according to a report in Circulation published in 2006. Males have a tendency to often ignore the symptoms of diabetes, therefore often tend to have more severe complications later on. The complications due to failure to diagnose and treat diabetes, and make the necessary lifestyle changes, in its early stages for a male may evolve into heart disease, circulatory problems, impotence, impaired vision, kidney disease, nerve damage, and possible amputation of hands, legs, or feet due to unmonitored symptoms of nerve damage and uncontrolled infections.

One possible reason why males do not follow lifestyle modification is that they possess the manly or macho image. Unfortunately, these changes are necessary to control level of their blood sugar. Being unable to do this aggravates the risk factors for complications. For unknown reasons, men are still said to be two or three times more prone to have amputation. Moreover, they are also more likely to end up blind more rapidly than females.

Lifestyle changes that males fail to make include changes in their diets. Males are more likely to continue eating lots of fast foods, foods high in saturated fats, tans-fats, processed foods, junk foods, foods high in sodium, starches, as well as high in sugars. It is very rare that a male will order a salad when eating out with the guys. It is very important to eat a well balanced diet that includes vegetables, Omega 3 fatty acids (found in salmon) lean meats, fish, poultry, fiber, and other whole grains.

One more thing that males find so hard to do is to stop from drinking alcohol. Alcohol serves as body pollutant. The liver is very much sensitive to alcohol and as much as possible it wants to get rid of the alcohol right away. Moreover, once alcohol is present, the liver does not function properly most especially in the production of glucose. When this happens, the level of blood sugar decreases and this can be very dangerous and harmful for the body. According to the American Diabetes Association, it is okay to drink alcohol however; it should not be taken with an empty stomach. This way, the lowering of blood sugar is guarded and monitored. It would be best to drink only after eating.

Smoking is also one of the things that males find hard to stop. However, this is necessary for males diagnosed with diabetes. If this is not done, the development of complications such as heart diseases may be occur rapidly and according to some studies, these diseases are some of the main causes of death of diabetic patients. Moreover, if smoking is not stopped, it will be very difficult to control the level of the blood sugar aggravating the stage of diabetes a person has. It is also proven that smoking destroys the blood vessels which may also lead to more complex complications such as atherosclerosis. These people also have a very sensitive immunity against colds and flu.

Men are also not very particular in monitoring the level of their blood sugar. This is very dangerous especially when they are diagnosed with diabetes. Continuous and regular rising and falling of blood sugar level is unsafe and fetal.

Let us face a simple fact; men are stubborn and bull-headed! They do not want to appear weak, so they will not go to their physician when symptoms of diabetes arise. This ends up in them having diabetes for a longer period of time before treatments are initiated, which then results in complications such as blindness, heart attack, kidney disease, and amputation. All of which could have been easily avoided, if men had simply just went to their physician on a more regular basis, or opened up and discussed possible problems that they may be experiencing.