Diabetes and erectile dysfunction: How it impacts your sexual life?

When a man has diabetes, his body is unable to keep blood glucose levels at a healthy range. A type of sugar called glucose is regarded as your body’s primary source of energy.

Men with diabetes usually have insufficient or improperly functioning insulin produced by their bodies. Diabetes can lead to major consequences and even increase the risk of sexual diseases including erectile dysfunction if it is not treated.

It has been shown that 35% to 75% of men with diabetes may develop erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. Men with diabetes tend to experience erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years early than men without diabetes.

Erectile dysfunction is even more common as men suffering from diabetes age.

Half of men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes often develop erectile dysfunction within 10 years of their diagnosis.

Nevertheless, there are several ways to overcome ED disorder through lifestyle & dietary changes like exercising, not smoking, and having a healthy diet.

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction

Diabetes destroys nerves that control erections and blood flow to the male genital organs, leading to erectile dysfunction. When a man is sexually stimulated, a chemical known as nitric oxide is released in his blood.

This nitric oxide tells arteries and muscles in the male reproductive organ to relax and increase the flow of blood. As a result, a man is able to achieve and maintain an erection required for sexual activity.

Men with diabetes struggle with blood sugar levels strikes, usually when their condition is not properly managed. When blood sugar levels are too high, less nitric oxide starts to produce in the body.

This means there is not enough flow of blood to the male sexual organ to achieve an erection. Men with diabetes often experience low levels of nitric oxide problems.

Living with erectile dysfunction disorder can be a real challenge as it might upset you and your partner. Nevertheless, you can deal with erectile dysfunction by taking a few steps and bringing back your sexual life on track.

Why do men with diabetes experience erectile dysfunction?

Causes of erectile dysfunction in diabetic men are complex and involve damage to blood vessels, nerve, and muscle functions. To get hard erections, men require healthy blood vessels, male hormones, nerves and desire to be sexually aroused.

Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves which are responsible for controlling erection. So, even if you have normal male hormones and a desire for sexual activity, you might not be able to attain hard erections.

How erectile dysfunction can be diagnosed?

Inform your doctor or schedule a visit with your urologist, if frequency or length of erections differ. Your doctor will be able to diagnose erectile dysfunction only after reviewing your medical history or symptoms.

They might also perform a physical exam to check if there are any nerve complications in the testicles or male sexual organs. Both blood and urine tests are helpful in diagnosing problems like low testosterone and diabetes.

In case, you are not experiencing any symptoms of ED but have been diagnosed with diabetes then discuss about future diagnosis. Your doctor can determine the best preventive steps which you can take right now.

Treatments

Treatment of ED usually depends upon cause and there are several effective treatment options available nowadays. These are the same for men with diabetes and men suffering from erectile dysfunction due to other causes.

Doctors might also change your prescription drugs that might be contributing to erectile dysfunction disorder. However, the most common treatment of ED is with oral tablets which restore sexual function in men with diabetes.

Here are four common ED medicines prescribed by doctors:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Vardenafil (Levitra)
• Avanafil (Spendra)
• Tadalafil (Cialis)

These medicines allow you to achieve an erection by increasing the flow of blood to the male reproductive organ. However, it is necessary for a man to be sexually aroused for achieving effective results of these ED medications.

Doctors recommend taking these drugs at least 30 to 60 minutes before planned sexual intercourse.

Other treatment options

ED can also be treated through different forms of treatment. Some of them are stated below:

Hormone therapy

Testosterone replacement therapy is suggested for men with ED who suffer from low levels of testosterone.

Vacuum pump therapy

A plastic tube is connected to a pump which is placed over a male sexual organ.

The pump begins to work by emptying air out of tube and this causes blood to be drawn into male reproductive organ.

Further, a ring is placed on a base of male sexual organ to achieve an erection during sexual intercourse.

Penile prosthesis

When all other treatment options fail then doctors recommend penile prosthesis as it requires major surgery.

An inflatable rod is implanted in male sexual organ to ensure it is erect during intercourse.

Psychological support

If erectile dysfunction disorder is caused by psychological conditions like depression or anxiety then counseling can help you.

Lifestyle changes

A few changes in your lifestyle can make a big difference. Here are some lifestyle changes you need to make:

Stop smoking

Smoking and other tobacco use can narrow your blood vessels and disturb blood flow to male sexual organ.

Your body’s levels of nitric oxide are also lowered by smoking. This worsens your erectile dysfunction condition.

Control your blood sugar with a diet

Eating a diabetes-friendly diet ensures better control of your blood sugar levels.

This further reduces the amount of damage to your nerves as well as blood vessels.

A proper diet keeps your blood sugar levels in check and improves energy levels & mood, reducing erectile dysfunction risk.

Get active

Adding regular exercise to your routine can assist in controlling blood sugar levels, improve circulation and reduce stress levels.

All these further contribute to dealing with erectile dysfunction.

Therefore, to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction, it is important to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.