Are you in charge of your health? Men, let’s face it. You’re not the best at getting to the doctor to learn more about the test you need to stay healthy, and that’s a fact, not just something made up.
Health Plan Customer Service
1-888-936-7526 (PLAN) TTY 711
Ages of 18-39
If you are between the ages of 18 – 39 we invite you to visit this section to get more information on staying healthy.
Ages of 40-64
Men between the ages of 40-64 should visit this section to get more information on staying healthy.
Ages of 65+
Over 65 years of age? Take charge of your health, visit this section to get more information on staying healthy.
As stated by the National Health Interview Survey in 2014, 38.5 percent of men have not had seen a doctor within the last 6 months, and 10 percent of men haven’t seen a doctor in over a year. Before you brush off the thought of going to see your doctor more, be sure you’re up-to-speed on what up tests are vital for males.
Get Preventive Tests
Screening tests can find diseases early, when they’re easiest to treat. Talk to your doctor about which preventive medical tests you need to stay healthy.
You should visit your doctor often, even if you feel healthy. We are here to help.
Diabetes in Men
Men are more likely to get type 2 high blood sugar at a lower weight than women. One reason is that men store more fat in their bellies, which is a known warning sign. More men have undiagnosed high blood sugar as compared to women. Uncontrolled high blood sugar puts men at greater risk for:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Eyesight loss
- Kidney failure
- And even amputation of a toe, foot or leg
Men with high blood sugar are three times
more likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED).
This happens when a man cannot get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. High blood sugar can harm the nerves and blood vessels needed for an erection. Talk to your doctor about care choices.
Other Problems
In addition to ED, nerve harm from high blood sugar can cause other problems for men, such as:
- Overactive bladder (needing to pass urine often, urinating often at night, leaking urine)
- Male incontinence (leaking urine)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Retrograde ejaculation (semen is released into the bladder)
These problems could mean you need to change how you are taking care of your high blood sugar.
High Blood Sugar Care
Work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels close to target to avoid or lessen nerve and blood vessel harm. Healthy habits that will help you are:
- Being active on most days,
- Eating healthy food,
- Checking your blood sugar,
- Taking care of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and
- Going to doctor appointments.
Local colleges have resources to support your health needs too!
Source: Diabetes and Men, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-men.html, Accessed: March 14, 2022.
Advice Nurse Line
Sometimes you need to talk to a nurse when you cannot talk to your doctor. The Advice Nurse helps you with any health problem you or someone in your family has. Click here for more information.
HealthReach 24/7 nurse and doctor advice line, call toll free:
Posted on May 24th, 2017 and last modified on August 11th, 2024.
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