Diabetes and sexuality

We have been looking at all aspects of diabetes over the last few months. Today, I will attempt to discuss the effects of diabetes on male sexuality.

THE EFFECTS ON MALE SEXUALITY

Over a period of time diabetes or sugar will affect the males sexuality, by affecting his desire or performance. Diabetes affects the many organs of the body by affecting the nerves, which give sensation to the organ, or the blood vessels that carry blood or life to the organ.{{more}} The extent of the effect depends on how well the diabetes is controlled. With well-controlled diabetes, the effects are milder and take a longer time to start affecting you. Vice versa, poorly controlled diabetics start being affected quicker and the effects are more profound.

Here are some of the effects:

Erectile dysfunction or impotence start affecting type 1(insulin dependent) diabetic men in their 30s and 40s. The main reason is diabetes’ effect on the nerves that give sensation to the penis. Sometimes, the blood vessels are also affected, but this usually occurs in the type 2 diabetics who are older and usually have hypertension. The younger men complain that they cannot maintain an erection, while the older diabetics say they cannot get it up, much more maintain it. Viagra, or one of its brothers, will help both men. Some herbal medications may help, but I am not aware of their doses or side effects. The fallacy of Viagra affecting the heart is just that – a fallacy, as most diabetic hearts will be helped, not hurt by Viagra.

Premature ejaculation or delayed ejaculation affects diabetics, but most complain of the former, as it is usually associated with impotence. If you are partially impotent, you tend to come quickly because of your anxiety about performance. This anxiety also results in you performing poorly, so the cycle repeats itself. Medication will help, but these men also need counselling. Sometimes, correcting the impotence alone is all that is necessary to treat these other two problems, as impotence is usually devastating to the man’s psyche.

Retrograde ejaculation is a condition not directly related to the above, as it is directly caused by the effect of diabetes on the nerves, so the ejaculation muscles are not strong enough to “push out” the sperms. The valve muscle at the bladder opening that prevents the sperms from going back into the bladder when you come is weakened in diabetes; some of the semen goes back into the bladder. This is not dangerous, as you can “pee” it out when you urinate after sex.

Loss of libido also accompanies diabetes, as poorly controlled diabetes affects the testosterone producing ability of the testicles. A decrease in testosterone leads to a loss of desire for sex. Poorly controlled diabetes also affects your general well being and hence your desire for sex. For example, let’s say you have kidney problems from your diabetes; this will affect your blood count, and this will make you feel weak, which in turn will affect your desire for sex.

These are some of the more common psychologic sexual problems; however, physical sexual problems can affect a diabetic’s sexual ability. Commonly, poorly controlled diabetes is associated with a chronic penile foreskin infection. This is caused by sugar in the urine, collecting on and under the foreskin. The foreskin is red and painful and this prevents intercourse.

Next week, I will finish the effects on men and address its effect on women.