Archive for October, 2013

Diabetes & Low-T: Know Your Risks & Treatment Options

A growing health concern among men in the United States is Type 2 Diabetes, formerly known as Adult-Onset Diabetes, a metabolic disorder brought on by high blood glucose levels and insulin deficiency. As average obesity levels have risen over the past 50 years, Type 2 Diabetes cases have increased proportionately. This is because obesity is considered to be the primary cause of the disease.

Diabetes wordcloudIf you are one of the 13 million men in the United States with Type 2 Diabetes (11.8% of all men over the age of 20 suffer from the disease), there are several important risks and treatment options that you need to be aware of. Startlingly enough, if you have Type 2 Diabetes, you are twice as likely to suffer from Low-T. This likelihood increases with age, as elderly men often experience the symptoms of lower testosterone levels. If you have Type 2 Diabetes as well as these following symptoms, you could be at greater risk for Low-T: fatigue, decreased sex drive, reduced lean body mass, lack of energy or erectile dysfunction.

Now that you know the risks and symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes, it is important to be aware of the treatment and prevention options available. Type 2 Diabetes is a disease that can and must be managed, especially in elderly men. When it comes to managing Type 2 Diabetes, many of the most helpful things are daily habits such as managing stress, eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity. If you are obese or genetically predisposed to the disease, these daily habits will prevent its onset if you are not already diagnosed. In more serious cases of Type 2 Diabetes, insulin medications and even surgery can be necessary, but the most common and beneficial way of managing the disease is through purposeful, healthy lifestyle changes.

Get started today and contact MMi to schedule and appointment or learn more about our treatment options.

Key Takeaways from Healthy Aging Month

September was deemed National Healthy Aging Month, with dedicated themes around heart health, cholesterol education and prostate awareness. As we look back, Men’s Medical Institute has compiled the key takeaways from Healthy Aging Month to further illustrate the current status of men’s health in the U.S. and urge men of all ages to take control of their health now.

Because testosterone is such an integral part of a male’s anatomy and overall health, testing for levels of Low-T by having your blood drawn will also screen for various illnesses and diseases including cholesterol, diabetes and prostate cancer before symptoms occur. This is crucial because high cholesterol does not have symptoms and prostate cancer may be asymptomatic.

Heart Health

FACT: Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of men (and women) in the United States.By 2030, it is expected that 23 million people will die from cardiovascular disease annually. At least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors – tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity – are controlled.

Examples of risk include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. MMi can measure your cholesterol levels and advise you on your risk before seeking treatment for testosterone deficiency.

Cholesterol Education

FACT: 71 million American adults have high cholesterol, but only one-third of them have the condition under control. Because high cholesterol does not have symptoms, many men may not know that their cholesterol is too high. Fortunately, screening is the key to detecting the disease. Men ages 20 – 45 should have their cholesterol checked every five years; men older than 45 must have their cholesterol checked more often.

Prostate Cancer Awareness

FACT: One in six men will have prostate cancer during his lifetime. The good news is that more than 99 percent of men survive prostate cancer when the disease is caught early.

Possible symptoms:

  • Urge, but inability to urinate
  • Weak urine flow
  • Blood in urine
  • Trouble starting/stopping urination
  • Painful/burning urination
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Hip, lower back or upper thigh pain

Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic, which is why it is crucial that men get screened. Take the first step and have your blood levels drawn at MMi – it may just save your lift.

While men should be health-conscious year-round, Healthy Aging Month in September provides an opportunity to reconsider those little habits and routines that can make a big overall difference in the long run. Growing old is a natural process that can be enjoyed and savored as long as it is approached with the right knowledge and attitude.

Schedule an appointment with MMi today.

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Appointments

If you are prepared to have more energy, feel stronger, increase your stamina and endurance, improve your memory and concentration and start sleeping better, then you are ready to schedule your appointment with the Men's Medical Institute.

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