The pancreas, which produces insulin, becomes damaged. The pancreas may make less insulin than your body needs. When you have too little insulin, the level of sugar in your blood rises and you may become diabetic. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormone and sex hormone can cause fatigue, infertility, and impotence. About 3 of every 1,000 people in the US have hemochromatosis, especially those of English, French, Swedish, or Portuguese descent.
Men are much more likely to have symptoms than women.
Before menopause women are protected somewhat from the disease because they lose quite a bit of iron during menstruation and childbirth. Some people do not have the disease but are carriers. Being a carrier means that you can pass the gene for the disease on to your children. You may not have any symptoms for years. Symptoms usually appear in middle age.