Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition in which you are unable to keep an erection firm during or for sexual intercourse. Although diabetes and erectile dysfunction are two different medical conditions, they tend to go hand-in-hand. Studies suggest that men with diabetes are 3 times more likely to develop ED (1).
Diabetes is a medical condition in which you may have too much blood glucose in your bloodstream. There are two main types of diabetes, namely, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is most common and accounts for 90%; people with type 2 often develop overweight. It is estimated that men with diabetes are more likely to develop ED. Studies suggest that 10% of men with diabetes develop severe ED; another 25% develop moderate ED (2) (3) (4). Although erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age, this article helps you to understand the role of diabetes and ED.
Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the reasons for ED; this might be due to the damage in the blood supply to the penis and nerves that control erection.
During the process of erections, a chemical called nitric oxide is released into the men’s bloodstream. It makes the arteries and the muscles in the penis relax so that it allows easy blood flow into the penis.
When you have diabetes, because your blood glucose levels will be too high, nitric oxide is produced less. This is one of the reasons for reduced blood flow into the penis and the difficulty of keeping an erection. Studies suggest that low levels of nitric oxide are often seen in people with diabetes (5).
According to a study from Boston University, medical center reports suggest that half of the men with type 2 diabetes will develop ED within 5 to 10 yrs of the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. If men with type 2 diabetes have other health complications such as heart diseases, it can make it even worse (6).
A study suggests that people with diabetes should follow a healthy lifestyle and should control diabetes to improve their sexual health (7). A balanced diet and regular exercise help to improve the blood glucose level and reduce the symptoms of ED.
What are the other causes of erectile dysfunction?
Several other reasons cause erectile dysfunction also some of them are listed below:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol and obesity
- Hormonal problems such as low testosterone
- Stress, work pressure, anxiety, and depression
- Lifestyle changes such as smoking, drinking, and illicit drugs
- Nervous system damage, including spinal cord or brain
- Sometimes it might be a side effect of certain medications such as high blood pressure and depression
- Prostate surgery or pelvic injury can also damage nerves that are connected to the penis, leading to Erectile dysfunction
Risk factors that increase ED in diabetic people
Certain risk factors increase the chances of erectile dysfunction in diabetes; you are at risk if you are;
- Unable to manage blood glucose
- Not following a healthy diet
- Are obese
- Have an abnormal lipid profile
- Are not physically active
- Are stressed out
- Taking medicines that may increase the side effects of ED
Diagnosis
If you are having trouble with an erection, then you can consult your doctor, and they may suggest you undergo a few tests, which include:
- A blood glucose test to check the glucose levels in your bloodstream, which may indicate diabetes
- Hormone test: To check the levels of testosterone
- Checking your blood pressure and sweat test; is done to check whether you have any cardiac problems or nerve damage
- A urine test is done to prevent the glucose in the urine, and it helps to determine diabetes
- Your doctor will do a physical examination to assess the genital and nerve reflexes in the legs and penis
- Your doctor may suggest taking up Sexual health (SHIM) questionnaire, and it may help to diagnose the presence and severity of ED
Treatment
Treatment of ED ultimately depends on the cause of symptoms. Many good treatment options; these options remain the same for men with diabetes or without diabetes. The treatment is given to reduce the symptoms, but it cannot be cured in cases if it is a side-effect of other diseases.
Your doctor may change your prescription medicines that may cause ED. PDE-5 inhibitors are administered to treat ED; most commonly prescribed drugs include:
- sildenafil (Viagra)
- vardenafil (Levitra)
- tadalafil (Cialis)
- avanafil (Spedra)
These drugs increase the blood flow to the penis and thus improve erection. Remember these drugs should be taken 30-60minutes before sexual intercourse, and it requires sexual stimulation.
There are options to treat ED. These include:
- Testosterone replacement therapy is for patients who have deficient testosterone levels, and it is also known as hormonal therapy.
- Penile injection therapy: this is recommended for patients who do not respond well to oral treatment. They Inject alprostadil into the penis before intercourse, and it increases the blood supply to the penis to produce an erection.
- Penile prosthesis: is major surgery wherein an inflatable rod is implanted into the penis to make it erect for intercourse. It is recommended very rarely, and it is considered when all the other treatment options fail.
- Psychological support: sometimes, due to stress, anxiety, and depression, people face erectile dysfunction. Counseling and mentoring can help many patients.
How to prevent erectile dysfunction?
Lifestyle changes play a vital role in diabetes management, and to reduce the risk of ED, you can bring some lifestyle changes. Such as:
Diet: Diabetes can be controlled through your diet. Eating a diabetes-friendly diet would help you better reduce the glucose levels in the blood. Now DASH is a famous diet followed by many people with diabetes. You may also consider talking to a nutritionist and dietitian and taking their opinion on the foods you consume and time intervals followed for eating.
Alcohol consumption: You must cut down your alcohol consumption. You must not exceed more than two drinks per day as it can cause damage to your blood vessels and cause ED. Even mild intoxication can also make it hard to achieve an erection.
Quit smoking: Smoking narrows your blood vessels and reduces the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. Due to this, there is decreased blood flow to the penis, which leads to erectile dysfunction.
Exercise: Doing exercise daily helps you to control your diabetes, blood pressure, improve circulation, reduce stress levels, and improve your energy levels.
Get more sleep: Your body needs rest; fatigue is one of the reasons for sexual dysfunction. ED symptoms will reduce if you ensure to get an adequate amount of sleep.
Reduce your stress: Stress is one of the main reasons for ED. Meditation, yoga, and other ways of relaxing like playing, painting, singing, etc., can help you reduce your stress. If you are undergoing a stressful situation, anxiety, and depression, consult your doctor and take treatment. Reducing your stress will help to reduce the symptoms of ED
Final words
A well-balanced diet, exercise, and good stress management can help you treat diabetes and manage the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Also, consulting a physician and taking some medicines can help you treat erectile dysfunction and associated diabetes.