Diabetes and Men’s Sexual Health: What You Need to Know
Sleep patterns, physical activity, and foods that increase testosterone can all have an impact on your sex life and sexual function. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that diseases like diabetes can affect sexual activity. However, like many men, you may be wondering, what sexual effects does diabetes have on men? If you’re experiencing concerns, you may want to consult an ED doctor online for professional guidance and treatment options.
Does erectile dysfunction (ED) occur more frequently in men with diabetes? Does sex drive increase or decrease in diabetics? If yes, what sexual effects might diabetes have on a man?
We’re here to address all of these queries as well as others regarding diabetes-related sexual dysfunction.
The Impact of Diabetes on Men’s Sexual Health
We’ll quickly review the specifics of this medical condition and how it impacts sexual function in order to respond to the question, “How does diabetes affect a man sexually?”
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic illness that affects how your body uses food as fuel, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Insulin resistance is the inability of people with diabetes mellitus to produce enough insulin to use blood sugar (or blood glucose) as fuel.
Type 1, type 2 (which is the most prevalent type, accounting for approximately 90% of cases), and gestational diabetes are the three forms of diabetes mellitus.
Numerous health problems, including heart disease, vision loss, and other issues, including sexual difficulties, can be brought on by diabetes.
Elevated blood glucose levels can cause diabetic neuropathy, which damages blood vessels and nerves and impairs sexual function. When diabetic neuropathy causes sexual dysfunction, some people may discover they have diabetes.
We’ve listed the ways that diabetes can impact men and lead to sexual dysfunction below.
Erectile Dysfunction
Significant blood flow to the penis is necessary for a man to get an erection. However, blood vessel damage brought on by diabetes may impact genital blood flow.
Erectile dysfunction, another name for diabetic neuropathy, is the inability to sustain an erection that is firm enough for sexual activity.
Erectile dysfunction is three times more common in men with diabetes than in those without the disease. Furthermore, people with diabetes may experience erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier than people without the chronic illness, and they are less receptive to oral medication for erectile dysfunction.
ED is also more common in people with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. Erectile dysfunction was more common in men with prediabetes than in those with normal blood sugar levels, according to a review of nine studies.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is another sexual problem that people with diabetes may encounter.
When diabetic neuropathy, the nerve damage brought on by diabetes, causes semen to be ejaculated into the bladder rather than out of the penis, this condition is known as retrograde ejaculation.
Premature ejaculation, a common problem with male sexual function, is more common in men with diabetes mellitus. This condition causes you to reach orgasm and ejaculate early during sexual encounters.
Testosterone Levels
Men with diabetes have been found to have lower testosterone levels, which may impact sex drive. According to a meta-analysis of thirteen studies, men with diabetes frequently have lower testosterone levels.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to have low testosterone levels as those without the disease.
A sex hormone called testosterone controls muscle mass, fat distribution, sex drive, and fertility, among other things. In addition to experiencing a range of symptoms, people with low testosterone levels may also benefit from testosterone replacement treatment.
Psychological Impact
Because they must spend a lot of time and energy managing their diabetes, people with the disease may frequently feel exhausted. This could lower their sex drive, have an impact on their emotional well-being, and result in additional psychological problems like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem.
Your body’s sympathetic nervous system is triggered when you experience stress or anxiety related to your diabetes. Among other things, this causes blood vessels to constrict and stress hormones like cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline to be produced in greater quantities. These side effects may result in elevated blood pressure and consequently decreased blood flow to certain body parts, including the penis. Simply put, performance anxiety’s psychological effects cause your body to react physically, making sex more challenging.
