How To Reverse Erectile Dysfunction From Diabetes
Is there anything that can be done to reverse erectile dysfunction from diabetes? Fortunately, there is.
Erectile dysfunction from diabetes is extremely common, affecting up to 75 percent of men with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes . It doesnt have to be a permanent condition. Understanding the causes of ED and the workings of diabetes can help you know what you can do to reverse erectile dysfunction from diabetes.
Diabetes and ED each have complex causes and effects. They can be physical, psychological, or both . Likewise, the effects can be physical and psychological. For example, erectile dysfunction can be caused by diabetes its an effect of the high blood sugar of the disease. It also can be a result of stress and anxiety over having the disorder. Effective ED treatment should address both causes and effects, physical and psychological.
How Can I Prevent And Treat My Sexual Or Bladder Problems
Managing your diabetes can help prevent nerve damage and other diabetes problems that can lead to sexual and bladder problems. With your health care team, you can help prevent and treat your sexual or bladder control problems by
- keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels close to your target numbers
Potential Risks Of Viagra For Diabetics
There are no particular additional risks for men with diabetes who choose to take ED medication when compared with men without diabetes, but most ED pills do come with side effects that should be considered. These include:
- headaches
- nausea
- problems with your vision
Theres no guarantee that you will experience side effects when using Viagra, whether or not you have diabetes, but you should consult your doctor beforehand to make sure Viagra is right for you.
It is possible for Viagra to interact negatively with other medications, including blood pressure medications, so you should speak to your doctor before starting Viagra if you are concerned.
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Can Diabetes Cause Impotence
Yes, diabetes can lead to impotence.
It is said that around 35% to 75% of men who is having diabetes will suffer from ED or impotence in lifetime. In fact, the truth is that men who already have diabetes can suffer from impotence 10 to 15 years earlier compared to those men who dont have any type of diabetes.
And as diabetic men ages, the condition becomes more common.
As per WebMD, after men reaches to age 50 with diabetes, difficulty in achieving erection increases to 50% to 60%. And when men reaches age 70, then its almost 95% chance of having difficulty with ED.
What Makes Me More Likely To Develop Sexual Or Bladder Problems
Youre more likely to develop sexual or bladder problems if you have diabetes and
- have high blood glucose that is not well controlled, also called high blood sugar
- have nerve damage, also called neuropathy
- have high blood pressure that is not treated
- have high cholesterol that is not treated
- are are overweight or have obesity
- are not physically active
Research also suggests that certain genes may make people more likely to develop diabetic neuropathy.2
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Why Do Men With Diabetes Have Erectile Dysfunction
The causes of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes are complex and involve impairments in nerve, blood vessel, and muscle function.
To get an erection, men need healthy blood vessels, nerves, male hormones, and a desire to be sexually stimulated. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control erection. Therefore, even if you have normal amounts of male hormones and you have the desire to have sex, you still may not be able to achieve a firm erection.
Study Characteristics And Quality Evaluation
The characteristics of the included studies were summarized in Table 1. Nine studies with 10980 male adults were included. Eight of them were published in English , and the other one was published in Chinese . Three studies included men who attended clinics for sexual dysfunction , while the others included men attending the primary care facilities or from the community-derived population . The mean ages of the patients varied from 41 to 60 years. Multiple definitions of prediabetes were applied within the included studies, including IGT , IFG , IFG and/or IFG , and IGT or IFG or HbA1c . Accordingly, 3862 men had prediabetes. As for the diagnostic methods for ED, the International Index of Erectile Functions questionnaire was applied in seven studies . For the other two studies, ED was diagnosed based on self-reported symptoms and Structured Interview on Erectile Dysfunction questionnaire , respectively. A total of 5511 male adults had ED. Age were controlled in all of the included studies, while in three studies , other variables such as body weight, smoking, alcohol drinking, comorbidities, and serum total testosterone were adjusted to a different degree. The NOS scores of the included studies ranged from seven to eight, indicating generally good study quality .
Table 1 Characteristics of the included observational studies.
Table 2 Details of study quality evaluation via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
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Association Between Prediabetes And Erectile Dysfunction: A Meta
- 1Department of Andrology, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, China
- 2Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- 3Department of Urology, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, China
- 4Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuhai, China
Background: Diabetes has been associated with the increased risk of erectile dysfunction . However, previous studies evaluating the association between prediabetes and ED showed inconsistent results. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to systematically evaluate the above association.
Methods: Relevant observational studies were retrieved by search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. A random-effect model which incorporated the potential intra-study heterogeneity was used for the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the influences of study characteristics on the outcome.
Prediabetes is associated with higher prevalence of ED, which may be independent of age of the males and may be stronger in young men.
How To Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
There are several lifestyle changes that you can make to not only help with diabetes management, but also to lower your risk of ED. You can:
Control your blood sugar through your diet. Eating a diabetes-friendly diet will help you better control your blood sugar levels and lessen the amount of damage to your blood vessels and nerves. A proper diet geared at keeping your blood sugar levels in check can also improve your energy levels and mood, both of which can help reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. You may consider working with a dietitian who is also a certified diabetes educator to help adjust your eating style.
Cut back on alcohol consumption. Drinking more than two drinks per day can damage your blood vessels and contribute to ED. Being even mildly intoxicated can also make it hard to achieve an erection and interfere with sexual function.
Stop smoking. Smoking narrows the blood vessels and decreases the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. This decreases blood flow to the penis, worsening erectile dysfunction.
Get active. Not only can adding regular exercise to your routine help you control your blood sugar levels, but it can also improve circulation, lower stress levels, and improve your energy levels. All of these can help combat ED.
Get more sleep. Fatigue is often to blame for sexual dysfunction. Ensuring that you get enough sleep each night can lower your risk of ED.
Last medically reviewed on October 21, 2016
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Low Sexual Desire And Response
Low sexual desire and sexual response can include
- being unable to become or stay aroused
- not having enough vaginal lubrication
- having little to no feeling in your genitals
- being unable to have an orgasm or rarely having one
With diabetes, your body and mind will likely go through many changes. For example, both high and low blood glucose levels can affect how and if you become aroused. Or, you may find yourself more tired than usual or depressed and anxious, making you less interested in sex.
Your health care team can help you make changes to your diabetes care plan so that youre back on track. Women who keep blood glucose levels in their target range are less likely to have nerve damage, which can lead to low sexual desire and response.
Safe Ed Medications For Men With Diabetes
Keeping your blood sugar levels under good control will of course be a priority. But even if youre doing that, you may still benefit from an erectile dysfunction medication.
One caveat: Before you try taking any type of oral medications for ED, the American Diabetes Association recommends talking to your doctor. Its important to identify or rule out other factors that could be addressed, such as any other medications that youre taking that might affect your sexual function or other underlying health conditions. Your doctor can also talk to you about reducing any other risk factors for ED that you might have.
If youre looking for an ED medication thats safe to try, you do have some options such as:
The recommended dosage amounts and the instructions for when to take the medicine will vary from drug to drug.
However, just because your doctor has given you the green light to try an ED drug doesnt mean that you dont need to watch out for possible side effects. For example, think about those ED medication commercials youve seen. You may have heard them caution that you might experience flushing of the face, headache or heartburn, among other mild side effects.
Also, be very cautious about anything thats not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as herbal supplements, says Dr. Anderson. Thats a definite buyer-beware, he says.
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Are There Treatments For Men With Diabetes And Erectile Dysfunction
Men who have diabetes and are having trouble achieving or maintaining an erection can take oral medicine The NHS can provide the following medications on prescription for men with diabetes:
Brand names include:
- Cialis
- Levitra
However, these medicines can all affect the heart rate, and detailed consultation with your doctor is necessary to determine the best course of action.
Additional treatments include intracavernous injection therapy, vacuum constriction devices, intraurethral therapy and sex therapy.
Psychotherapy can have an enormous influence on erectile dysfunction. Further treatment such as surgery and vacuum devices may also have a role to play in some specific cases.
Frequent And Urgent Urination
Some people with diabetes who regularly have high blood glucose levels may have to urinate too often, also called urinary frequency. Even men and women with diabetes who manage their blood glucose levels within their target range sometimes feel the sudden urge to urinate, called urgency incontinence. This can happen at night, also. Medicines may help reduce the symptoms of bladder control problems.
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Sexual Health Issues Specific To Women
For women, the most common sexual health issue that comes with type 2 diabetes is vaginal dryness. This can be the result of hormonal changes or reduced blood flow to the genitals.
Women who have diabetes have increased rates of vaginal infections and inflammation. Both of these can make sex painful. Nerve damage to the bladder can also cause incontinence during sex.
Women with diabetes are also more likely to have more frequent urinary tract infections . This can also make sex painful and uncomfortable.
Benefits Of Viagra For Diabetics
Better erections
Most common erectile dysfunction medications are what are known as PDE5 inhibitors. They work by blocking an enzyme known as PDE5, controlling blood flow and relaxing arterial blood vessels, whilst constricting veins. This mismatch in blood flow allows men to more easily achieve an erection.
Higher libido
Whilst Viagra and other ED meds do not directly increase your libido, not having to worry about erectile dysfunction or sexual performance can make you less stressed and, in turn, more likely to seek out sex.
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Diabetes Increases The Risk Of Sexual Dysfunction
There are several reasons people with diabetes experience sexual dysfunction more often than the general public.
Obesity, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and depression are common conditions that occur alongside diabetes, says Avadhanula. Obesity can indirectly lead to erectile dysfunction . Sleep apnea can cause ED for men or put women at a higher risk for sexual difficulties. Depression and anxiety can also negatively impact the libido or lead to the use of medication that affects sexual interest or function.
Emotional health concerns
Men and women who wear an insulin pump may feel self-conscious. Plus, the time and energy spent managing diabetes and related conditions can take a toll on emotional health. This may lead to disinterest in sex or the use of a medication that negatively affects sexual function.
Hormonal changes
Changes in testosterone or estrogen can impact libido, lubrication and the ability to become sexually aroused, says Avadhanula.
Less blood flow
Diabetes impacts blood flow, which could affect blood reaching the penis or vagina. For a man to achieve and sustain an erection, he needs blood to flow to the penis. In women, decreased blood flow could play a role in vaginal dryness.
Medication side effects
High blood pressure medications may impact the ability to achieve or maintain an erection, says Avadhanula. And some medications which help manage depression or anxiety are notorious for inhibiting arousal or sexual interest.
Nerve damage
How Can A Diabetic Men Overcome Erectile Dysfunction
As per the treatment is concerned, men suffering from ED really wants the best cure. Here I am going to give you diabetes and impotence solutions.
So lets go through them:
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Diabetes erectile dysfunction natural treatment
There are several natural treatments that can cure ED for diabetes patient. Lifestyle change is one of the top most cure for this condition.
Some of the common one includes stop smoking, drinking alcohol, losing excess pounds, doing some physical activity etc.
Kegel exercises Apart from these, you should do kegel exercises that help men to ejaculate better. It strengthens pelvic floor muscles and at the same time improves erectile function. One of the study found that doing pelvic floor exercise helped diabetic men to cure ED completely and to achieve and maintain erections.
Couples therapy Erectile dysfunction can also impact self-esteem negatively and can cause anxiety or depression. But if the condition is cured individually then problem can be solved. You can take help of any psychiatrist or psychologist that can eliminate ED completely. The couple therapy helps both partners to talk about their feelings and get rid of ED.
Alternative treatment Some other ways includes acupuncture that cures ED as well. Even if you take ginseng then also its one of the best way to overcome erectile dysfunction.
NOTE
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Best ED pill for diabetics
Disclaimer
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Supplements
There are many supplements available that can help to overcome ED effectively. Some of them include:
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What Comes To Your Blood During Diabetes
Diabetes as every one of you knows is the delayed consequence of high glucose levels. As of now, high proportions of sugar in your dissemination framework can hurt the nerves. The overflow sugar will moreover approach coatings on the internal surfaces or dividers of the channels and veins inciting plaque plan.
This can achieve damage to nerve tissue and besides truly decline the district inside the vein for circulatory system.
Treatment Of Ed With Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors
The treatment of ED in general was revolutionized by the introduction of the PDE5 inhibitor class of medications. The first of PDE5I to obtain United States Food and Drug Administration approval was of sildenafil , followed by vardenafil , tadalafil , and avanafil .
All PDE5I are dependent on function of the NO/cGMP pathway. Sexual stimulation provokes the release of nitric oxide from cavernous nerves and endothelial cells. NO leads to activation of guanylate cyclase, which catalyzes the transformation of GTP to cyclic guanosine monophosphate . By a variety of downstream mechanisms, cGMP triggers decreased intracellular calcium with subsequent relaxation of actin/myosin cross bridges and penile smooth muscle relaxation. cGMP is deactivated by conversion to 5 prime guanosine monophosphate, a process mediated by phosphodiesterase type 5 – the predominant functional PDE type found in the penis .
PDE5I block the inactivation of cGMP, leading to persistently elevated levels of cGMP and continued smooth muscle relaxation . Since the release of NO is mediated by both neuronal and endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase , neuropathy and endothelial disease blunts the efficacy of PDE5I. This is confirmed clinically as men with diabetes have a poorer response overall to PDE5I than men with ED of other etiologies.
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Can Diabetic Patient Take Viagra To Overcome Ed
Generally men with diabetes suffer from ED and fail to achieve an erection. And due to this, lots of men try different oral medications to overcome ED and in this context, one famous name is Viagra.
But Can you take Viagra if you have diabetes?
Its true that oral therapy has cured ED successfully with diabetic men.
Around 50% of type 1 diabetes men have used Viagra and seen improvement in erection level whereas around 60% of Type 2 diabetes men also found it helpful .
Hence, as you can see that most of the diabetes patient have found it helpful so there is no harm in taking Viagra to overcome ED, but once you should also take advice from your doctor.