Diabetes and Men’s Health

Regular health checks are essential

Diabetes can affect the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels over time, so annual health checks are essential to spot any changes early so that any risks can be managed. These include:

• Lifestyle Review: Your GP or practice nurse will talk to you about your diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, sleep, and stress.
• Medication Review: Your medications should be reviewed regularly, with your GP also looking at blood test results, weight and waist measurements and your overall health to ensure they’re working well for you and not causing side effects. To learn more about your diabetes medications you can talk to your doctor or local pharmacist.
• Immunisations: Important vaccines include the flu shot, Pneumovax (over 65), and the shingles vaccine (ages 70–79).
• Key Diabetes Checks:
  • HbA1c (every 3–12 months) – is a blood test that shows average blood glucose over last 10 to12 weeks. Aim for less than 7% (53mmol/mmol), however this may vary for each person. This helps reduce the risk of diabetes complications. If your HbA1c is above this target this usually means that your blood glucose levels have been above your target range for the past 10 to 12 weeks. Over time, if your HbA1c is stays above target it can damage blood vessels and nerves which can increase your risk of diabetes complications.
  • Blood Pressure (at least every 6 months) – aim for under 130/80. This is important to protect your blood vessels, especially the tiny blood vessels at the back of your eyes and in your kidneys.
  • Feet (every 6 months) – your podiatrist, diabetes educator or GP can check that the nerves in your lower legs and feet are working well and that you have a good blood supply to your feet. They will also check your skin, toenails and foot shape. It is also important that you do a daily foot check and speak to your healthcare team if you notice any changes.
  • Eyes (every 1 to 2 years) – ask your optometrist for a diabetes eye test. In this test they will look at the back of your eyes to check that the blood vessels are healthy.
  • Kidneys (once a year) – your GP will ask you to do urine and blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working.
  • Blood fats (once a year) – keeping cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the target range will reduce your risk of heart disease. A general guide is:
    
    • total cholesterol of less than 4 mmol/L
    • Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), or ‘unhealthy’ cholesterol, of less than 2 mmol/L
    • High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), or ‘healthy’ cholesterol, of 1 mmol/L or above
    • triglycerides of less than 2 mmol/L.
  • These targets may change according to your type of diabetes, age, and other personal factors.

General Men’s Health Checks not directly linked to diabetes:

• Prostate (PSA test) – from age 50, or earlier if there's a family history.
• Bowel cancer screening (FOBT) – every two years from age 50 to 74.
• Thyroid testing – especially important for those with type 1 diabetes.

Fitting health into a busy life

Let’s get real, life gets busy and health checks can feel like just another thing on the to-do-list. Your health isn’t just important – it’s the whole engine that keeps you running. Take time off or book after-hours GP appointments. Schedule reviews in advance and request blood/urine test forms before appointments. You don’t have to do it all at once. Small steps = big wins. Book that check-up.

Diabetes Care Plans

Ask your GP for a Medicare Diabetes Care Plan (these are now called GP Chronic Condition Management Plans – or GPCCMP) - you’ll need a longer appointment. In this appointment you’ll cover off on all the important checks listed above. In addition, a GPCCMP gives a rebate (some money) towards five appointments per year with health professionals such as a diabetes educator, podiatrist, and dietitian.

People with diabetes have a high risk of depression and anxiety. If you are concerned about your emotional health, please speak to your GP. If you have been a diagnosed with a mental health condition, you can ask for a Medicare Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). A MHCP gives a rebate (some money) towards up to ten appointments with a mental health professional such as a psychologist.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Diabetes

ED is common in men with diabetes and could signal heart disease. Don’t be embarrassed (your doctor has heard it all before!) and bring it up early in the appointment. It could also be linked to low testosterone, which can be picked up by an early morning blood test. Talk to your doctor if this affects you – they can talk to you about your treatment options as there are many effective treatments available.

Be honest about medication

It is common for people to forget to take their medication, especially if they take a lot of medication. If there is a medication that you regularly forget to take, or a time of day that you often forget to take your medication, let your doctor know. They can work with you to review your medication and timing of medications to help you find a solution—whether that’s simplifying your routine, switching medications, or organising a Home Medication Review with a local pharmacist. Your pharmacist is also a great person to talk to if you have any questions or concerns about any of your medications. They usually have a private room where you can have a chat.

What it all comes down to? With a solid care plan, a few tweaks and your healthcare team by your side, you can keep your diabetes on track and feel better. You've got this!

With special thanks to Dr Bernie Crimmins for his reflections on diabetes and men’s health.