Erectile dysfunction is common in men as they age, but it is particularly common for people suffering from diabetes. Diabetes can lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction,regardless of what type of diabetes you have. Studies suggest that 35-75 percent of men with diabetes will likely develop ED. They also tend to develop ED sooner (10-15 years) than men without diabetes.
Why Do Men With Diabetes Have Erectile Dysfunction?
Men suffering from diabetes often suffer from ED. There are a number of contributing factors that involve impairments in nerve, blood vessel, and muscle function. Getting an erection is a complex process, it requires healthy blood vessels, nerves, male hormones, and a desire to be sexually stimulated. It is a physical and psychological process. The connection between diabetes and ED is related to your blood circulation and nervous system. Diabetes affects your small blood vessels and nerves with poorly controlled blood sugar levels. This can damage the nerves that control sexual stimulation, which can impede a man’s ability to achieve a firm erection. Reduced blood flow from damaged blood vessels also contributes to ED. When a person suffers from diabetes, it can damage the blood vessels and nerves. It means there’s more sugar in the bloodstream, and this can damage small blood vessels that control erection. People with diabetes are also associated with depression or anxiety due to the stress of the disease. This condition can further aggravate your condition.
Another reason why people with diabetes experience difficulty in getting an erection in spite of having the desire is due to the medications that come with diabetes. These medications reduce the risk of heart problems or complications from diabetes, but they may also lead to ED by lowering blood pressure or other side effects that make achieving an erection difficult.
Risk factors for erectile dysfunction
While suffering from diabetes, there are several risk factors that can increase your chance of developing ED. These include:
- poorly managed blood sugar
- anxiety
- depression
- poor diet
- inactive
- obesity
- smoking
- excessive drinking
- uncontrolled hypertension
- medications that list ED as a side effect
How can you manage ED with diabetes?
The good news is ED is curable. With proper medical help and medication, a person can return to his full potential within no time. There are various treatments ranging from drugs to surgery, depending on the cause and severity of your condition.
- Oral medication
Erectile dysfunction medications include Cenforce 100 and Vidalista. These medications can help relax the blood vessels, increasing the blood flow, and making it easier to get and achieve an erection. They are successful in treating ED. This is the most sought-out option for a quick fix and comes in various doses. Although it’s a quick fix taking these tablets won’t automatically solve your problem, sexual stimulation is needed. These tablets should be consumed after a doctor’s recommendation. These might not work for you if you require a more vigorous course of treatment.
- Exercise
Due to a hectic lifestyle, it is easy to miss out on your daily exercise. Recent studies have shown, that daily exercise can improve erectile dysfunction and enhance sexual activity and stamina.
- Penis pump
It is a device that helps you attain an erection by creating a vacuum that pulls all the blood into your penis. Once you successfully get an erection, you place a tension ring around your penis to hold the blood and then remove the device. If this is a suitable device, your doctor will recommend it and prescribe a specific model.
- Testosterone replacement
Sometimes ED is caused due to low levels of the hormone, testosterone. In this case, a testosterone replacement therapy could be recommended. This can be done through intramuscular injections; testosterone patches or testosterone gels. Injections are usually given every 10-14 days, while patches and gels can be applied every day. Be careful while using gels, so as to not transfer them to your partner.
- Surgery
Surgery could be the last resort, after exhausting all the other available options. When drug-based treatments have not shown any effect, a surgical option is considered. These will help the patients attain a firm erection. There are various surgical treatments available, including implants. These surgeries are usually rare.
- Counselling
If ED is caused due to stress or anxiety, or some condition that is creating tension, your doctor might recommend you or you and your partner start counselling.
Takeaway
As mentioned above there are various treatments available to cure your ED. So what treatment is best for you? It depends on a person’s health and their ability to tolerate the treatment. Consult your urologist to determine what’s the best treatment for you.
Author Bio
Dr. Jonathan Abernathy is a Urology specialist and has over 21 years of experience in the medical field. He’s currently working with Fullhouse Pill as a Chief Medical Expert and is responsible for transforming the platform into a safe place where everyone’s welcome to share their problems at ease. Dr. Abernathy earned his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh and currently runs a private clinic in New York. He aims to work closely with the team of Fullhouse Pill to make Telehealth as convenient as possible.
