
We had the privilege of talking with Dr. Richard Bergenstal, the Vice President of Medicine & Science of the American Diabetes Association (ADA; www.diabetes.org). Dr. Bergenstal has dedicated 30 years of his career to making life better for people with diabetes.
The ADA surveyed 1,000 men with type 2 diabetes, age 40-60, as well as 1,000 female spouses of men who have type 2 diabetes. The survey assessed their general knowledge of type 2 diabetes and associated complications.
The ADA's "National Men's Health Education Survey" revealed:
According to the ADA there are 12 million men in the U.S. who have diabetes. In addition to common complications from diabetes, diabetes complications can also specifically affect men in the following ways according to the ADA:
The ADA is recommending men be more proactive in managing their diabetes including: "monitoring the ABCs of diabetes which include A1c (a measure of blood glucose), blood pressure and cholesterol."
In our interview, Dr. Bergenstal emphasized that men with diabetes need to be aware of the physical aspects of disease, but they also need to be aware of the emotional and sexual issues stemming from diabetes.
Listen to Dr. Richard Bergenstal's interview for his viewpoint regarding how men with diabetes can be proactive in managing their diabetes to improve their overall health and quality of life.
The ADA has information on its website dedicated to men's health issues. For more information and to download a free copy of the ADA's booklet "Modern Man's Guide to Living Well With Diabetes," please visit www.diabetes.org/resources/men.
The goal of Destination Diabetes® is to be a useful and credible resource for the more than 20 million children and adults who have diabetes in the U.S. and their families. Destination Diabetes® provides information on a wide range of diabetes health and wellness topics. Articles are written or reviewed by diabetes advisors who have experience in diabetes education.