The Diabetes Pro

Does having diabetes make men moody? Research says yes, confirming what generations of women have long held: As men age, their hormonal health changes dramatically.

(It’s not just women going through the Change, apparently! Who knew?)

Testosterone levels drop and estrogen levels rise, a condition known as Andropause. This generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. Unlike women, however, who can tie menopause to the cessation of the menstrual cycle, there’s no tangible physical symptom associated with andropause.

However, when these hormonal changes are coupled with the blood sugar fluctuations that are part and parcel of diabetes (especially poorly controlled diabetes) wild mood swings can occur. Men report having unusually strong or uncharacteristic emotional reactions to situations that would normally not bother them at all.

So if you’re a man who’s diabetic and between the ages of 40-55, you might want to keep an eye on your moods. Sudden changes in your emotional health can be a sign of andropause. Hormone replacement therapy has worked successfully for many men and may be well worth exploring with your doctor.

Don’t be shy about talking with your doctor! Andropause remains an underdiagnosed condition for a number of reasons. One of the most common is that some men find it difficult, nearly impossible, to admit that there’s a problem. Men in our culture are socialized to ignore their feelings — yet paying attention to those same feelings can play a critical role in one’s quality of life.

It’s a simple little envelope, no more than 3″x5″ — yet the sight of it in a child’s backpack can be enough to strike fear into the heart of a parent.  Those small envelopes hold invitations — to birthday parties, more often than not — and birthday parties mean cake, ice cream, and candy.  All of which are tempting — and to the child with diabetes, potentially dangerous.

 We have to live with our diabetes.  There’s no avoiding it: it’s a chronic condition that isn’t going to go away, no matter how much we wish, hope, and pretend otherwise.  It’s hard for adults, but it’s harder for children.  Let’s be realistic: every single adult slips up sometimes, cheats, or does what they know they ’shouldn’t’ — but we hope we’ve got the insight and understanding to fully comprehend the consequences of our actions.

If we’re in kindergarten, or first grade, or second grade, is that really the case?  You know and I know that that answer is probably not.  If you’re confronted with the birthday party invitation, here’s three hints you can use to make life easier:

 1. Communicate with other parents: The parents hosting the party probably never even considered the thought of diabetic children. Talk to them about how things can go smoothly without disrupting the flow of events: that might mean providing your own treats for your kid ahead of time — that way the host parent can include your kids in the fun without disrupting the festivities.

2. Tag along: This is especially appropriate with younger children.  Plan on being the extra set of eyes, just to make sure your little one doesn’t ‘try’ an ice cream cone.  There are adults, still, who ‘don’t believe’ in diabetes or that a simple candy bar can have dramatic consequences.  Your child shouldn’t have to advocate for themselves against adults.  You can fill that role.

3. Work with your child: A conversation ahead of time, reinforcing what can and can’t be eaten and why, is a pain — but it’s a necessity.  This is going to be an ongoing process, but special reinforcement is necessary before special events.  It’s too easy to ‘forget’ in the face of the excitement.

According to this article in Science News , research on one treatment method being considered by the ACCORD project (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) has been stopped by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. This reasearch, which ended 18 months early, ceased due to safety concerns.

To quote from the article: The ACCORD trial was designed to determine whether intensively lowering blood sugar would reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease, specifically in people with type 2 diabetes who are at particularly high risk for a cardiovascular event. Prior studies suggested that reducing blood sugar to levels found in non-diabetic adults may reduce the rate of cardiovascular diseases among those with diabetes. However, a randomized clinical trial was needed to determine whether that hypothesis is accurate.

However, participants who underwent the most intensive treatment and achieved the lowest overall blood sugars also experienced higher levels of mortality — obviously never good news! After review, the patients who were receiving intensive treatment have been switched over to less intensive regimes, and the ACCORD study continues.