Can diabetes affect
a man's sexual health?
Diabetes does affect a man’s sexual
health. It is a well-known fact that diabetes of both
type I and type II, is associated with a significant
prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction or impotence is a sexual disorder
characterized by the inability to develop or maintain
an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless
of the capability of ejaculation. There are various
underlying causes for this, and one is diabetes.
It is estimated that at least 50% of diabetic men suffer
from Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction occurs
at a younger age in diabetic men as compared to men
who do not have diabetes. It also is well known that
not all diabetic patients develop Erectile Dysfunction.
Those individuals with certain diabetic related complications,
such as peripheral neuropathy, have a very high association
of Erectile Dysfunction.
In recent research, it has been proved by studies that
diabetes measured by the glycosylated hemoglobin level,
known as HbA1C, is inversely correlated with Erectile
Dysfunction.
The higher the amount of hemoglobin A1C in the blood,
the higher the chances of Erectile Dysfunction are.
Thus, there is a direct correlation between worsening
sugar levels in the blood and erectile dysfunction,
which leads to affect a man’s sexual health.
In a study recently completed, it was found that 60%
of men with a hemoglobin A1C level of less than 8 were
relatively normal in erectile function score as compared
to people of similar age. However, if a man had a hemoglobin
A1C level of greater than 8 his erectile function score
dropped markedly. Also, as compared to those individuals,
men with hemoglobin A1C levels of greater than 8 were
on the average 10 years younger than non-diabetic people.
Erectile Dysfunction or ED occurs due to narrowing
of the blood vessels, which is a common occurrence with
diabetes. In addition to causing other complications,
such as heart disease, a lack of good circulation means
that not enough blood can flow in and out of the penis.
Added together, these effects of diabetes make it difficult
for men to achieve or maintain an erection. If proper
steps are not taken on time to rectify the situation,
it may not be possible to treat this ailment.
The initial patient evaluation should consist of the
history and physical examination to get to the real
reason behind ED. The physician should inquire specifically
about diabetes in the Erectile Dysfunction history.
Other tips include examining the urine for sugar. If
any traces of sugar are found in the urine upon testing,
then a serum glucose and glycohemoglobin should be obtained.
Usually the sugar level is 200 mg. This situation would
require medical attention. The patient should be treated
early in diabetes and offered an aggressive therapy
otherwise it may lead to complications like ED.
Steps to avoid ED while suffering from diabetes
Men with diabetes can take a number of steps to prevent
and over come ED. The main thing to do is to control
diabetes and manage it in a better way. Some steps to
this are:
- Control your weight
- Monitor your cholesterol
- Control your blood pressure
- Stop smoking
- Take medicines to improve your sugar level
- Changes in life style can lead to better sugar management
and can prevent one from developing ED
To stimulate themselves for a satisfying intercourse,
men can use several drugs to lower sugar level along
with improving the quality of life style. Viagra is
the most commonly prescribed drug to treat impotence
or ED. However, use of Viagra in men with heart disease
should be carried out only after consulting a doctor
as it may cause other complication due to presence of
nitrate.
Also, a patient with diabetes should be told about
trying to maintain tight control over his blood glucose.
There have been cases when tight glycemic control and
normalization of blood sugars were noticed in improvement
of erectile dysfunction or preventing Erectile Dysfunction
from occurring in men.
Diabetes is a very strong factor, which if not controlled
or properly monitored, can affect a man’s sexual
life and cause ED. Due to the narrowing of blood vessels
which carry blood back and forth from the body to the
penis, a man may face erection problems. If these problems
are not taken care of on time, Erectile Dysfunction
can result leading to sexual problems.
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