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According to the research, only 30% of men surveyed claimed to know "alot" about their disease and only one quarter (25%) of men with diabetesreported eating balanced and nutritious meals. Additionally, 60% of men feltthat more information could help them better manage their disease, and 65%felt more information could help them have more useful conversations withtheir health care providers about their disease.
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To respond to this need, the American Diabetes Association is launching anational educational campaign to provide men with diabetes -- and theirspouses -- with information and resources to better manage their diabetes andthe array of other health conditions that can be associated with this disease.
"The American Diabetes Association recognizes that there are manyinformation needs for people with diabetes; this program is a major steptoward filling in important gaps that specifically affect men. This campaignoffers enhanced information and tools to help men better appreciate theimportance of adopting a more comprehensive, or modern, approach to managingtheir diabetes," said Richard M. Bergenstal, M.D., Vice President, Medicine &Science, American Diabetes Association. "These survey results reinforce thatthere are many health issues associated with diabetes that men currentlyoverlook or aren't even aware of -- from managing blood glucose, bloodpressure and cholesterol to physical, emotional, and sexual health issues suchas erectile dysfunction and low testosterone."
In an effort to bridge the communication gap between men with diabetes,their health care providers, and significant others, the American DiabetesAssociation has developed a campaign with a focus on challenging men to takecharge of their own health. Featuring a variety of new resources specificallyfor men, the campaign includes The Modern Man's Guide to Living Well withDiabetes handbook, an enhanced men's health section on the American DiabetesAssociation Web site at diabetes.org/menshealth and a public serviceannouncement (PSA).
"Men can take small steps that can have a big impact on their ability tobetter manage their diabetes," said Dr. Bergenstal. "Doing what they know,like staying active, sticking to a healthful diet, learning about increasedrisks for related conditions, and talking with a doctor if they are sufferingfrom bothersome symptoms, is the key to managing diabetes today."
Of the nearly 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 12 million aremen. Many of these men are unaware that they are at an increased risk forcomplications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, disease and amputation,as well as other conditions that affect their physical, sexual and emotionalhealth. In fact, the survey showed that men with type 2 diabetes and the wivesof such men are mostly unknowledgeable about low testosterone. With symptomssuch as depressed mood, erectile dysfunction and fatigue, men with lowtestosterone may feel too frustrated, unmotivated or unaware to discussdisease-related complications with a doctor or loved one, further diminishingtheir ability to take a proactive approach to managing their disease.
Campaign Offers Support to Men with Diabetes
Committed to providing people with diabetes and their loved ones with themost comprehensive and up-to-date information, the updated American DiabetesAssociation men's health Web site (www.diabetes.org/menshealth) now offersenhanced resources to aid and empower men with diabetes who are seekingmale-specific health information, includi
