Diabetes And Erectile Dysfunction: The Link And Treatment

The impact of diabetes on your quality of life is hard to measure, but it can be particularly devastating when it interferes with your relationship by affecting intimacy or healthy sexual activity. This is unfortunately the plight of millions of men with diabetes for a variety of reasons. In fact, studies show that roughly 35 to 75 percent of men with diabetes also suffer from erectile dysfunction. Although this can be a touchy subject for most men, it’s important to understand the causes of diabetic erectile dysfunction so that it can be dealt with effectively. 

The Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Diabetes

Under normal circumstances, sexual arousal results in the release of nitric oxide into the bloodstream, which induces relaxation of blood vessels and muscles in the penis. This allows increased blood flow to the penis, which results in an erection. This process is compromised when dealing with diabetes. 

Diabetes causes damage to blood vessels and nerves – both of which play an important role in sexual function. This results in impaired blood flow to the penis, which is essential for the achievement and maintenance of an erection. Similarly, reduced sensitivity in the nerves also adversely affects arousal and the ability to achieve an erection. 

When diabetes is not managed effectively and there are spikes in blood sugar levels it interferes with the production of nitric oxide. This directly impacts male sexual function as nerve signals are weakened and blood flow to the penis is not increased significantly enough to achieve an erection. 

Additionally, diabetes affects arousal and sex drive, which can weaken erections. This is thought to be a result of reduced levels of the male hormone testosterone. Weight gain and obesity can also contribute to the condition and is often diabetes comorbidity. 

Another important factor that is often overlooked is the impact of diabetes on mental wellbeing. Due to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in diabetes patients, the risk of erectile dysfunction is also higher and, in many cases, may be a psychological rather than a physical problem. Reports show that roughly 20 percent of all cases of erectile dysfunction are associated with psychological or mental health disorders.

Treating Erectile Dysfunction And Diabetes

The most important step to dealing with erectile dysfunction effectively is to seek help from your health care provider. Doctors will be able to diagnose the underlying cause of the condition – whether physical or psychological. Treatments can be prescribed accordingly.

In most cases, doctors will prescribe oral medications such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil. These drugs are used to stimulate blood flow to the penis and are fairly effective at treating erectile dysfunction. It’s also worth noting that most of these medications are regarded as safe for diabetics and do not inform with diabetic medications. However, they should only be taken with the approval and guidance of your doctor. Other treatments including pumps and penile implants are less effective and, in some cases, may even cause additional complications, making oral medications the best choice. 

As mental health has a significant impact on male sexual function and is often overlooked, it would also help to seek the help of a behavioral therapist, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist to deal with the underlying cause of the problem. 

Reference Links:

1. https://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/19/1/45
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793809/
3. https://www.mirecc.va.gov/cih-visn2/Documents/Provider_Education_Handouts/Erectile_Dysfunction_Information_Sheet_for_BHPs_Version_3.pdf
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15709885/