Diabetes and Men's Health Issues

Abstract

Across a broad range of indicators, men report poorer health than women.1 In 2000, diabetes mellitus was ranked as the sixth leading cause of death among men in the United States.1 Researchers postulate that a complex set of causal and interrelated sex-specific factors contribute to this high rate of mortality. These sex-specific factors include socioeconomic status (e.g., poverty), poor personal health practices, 2 deconstructive norms of masculinity (e.g., invincibility), 3 maladaptive stress management skills, 4 and inadequate health care–seeking behaviors.5 Studies in diabetes care reveal that regardless of patients' sex, several factors influence health status and quality of life. These include biological (e.g., hemoglobin A1c [A1C]), psychological, social, and financial issues. In addition, however, sex influences several aspects of medical management (e.g., adhering to medication, changing diet, and self-monitoring blood glucose; establishing new life roles regarding family, friends, and employment; and mastering new skills to manage feelings of anger, fear, depression, and guilt).6 Because patients' sex influences various aspects of diabetes care, health outcomes are also likely to differ between the sexes. Many published studies have examined women's health issues in terms of diabetes.7,8 These studies have examined various aspects of psychological functioning (e.g., self-efficacy and coping skills), behavioral skills (e.g., blood glucose monitoring and physical activity), diabetes knowledge (e.g., basic procedures to manage hypoglycemia), and social support (e.g., sources and quality of emotional support), primarily among women.9 A paucity exists, however, of similar published research examining men's health issues in terms of diabetes. Male-focused diabetes research is scarce because study participants in large diabetes research trials have been primarily female, and …