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April 2006
The Sexual Side Effects of DiabetesThe two main causes of erectile dysfunction are easier to treat than ever beforeThe sexual side effects of diabetes affect mostly men, in the form of erectile dysfunction, or ED. When men have ED, they either can’t achieve, or can’t maintain, an erection. “The problem affects about 70 percent of men who’ve had diabetes for 10 years or more,” says endocrinologist Donald Barilla of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “What’s more, men often feel depressed and embarrassed about their problem.”The good news: The two main causes of ED are easy to pinpoint and treat—in many cases. “Men with diabetes often develop ED either due to diabetic neuropathy or low testosterone levels,” Barilla says. “In either case, we can often manage or eliminate the problem.” Diabetic neuropathy, the same complication that injures the nerves throughout your body, can also affect the valves controlling blood flow to the penis. “You may only get a partial erection, making sex impossible. Or blood may flow out of the penis before intercourse is finished,” Barilla says. Although this diabetic nerve damage is permanent, doctors can still treat this condition with an ED medication, such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, he says. “These drugs help keep the blood-flow valve closed, so men can achieve and maintain erections.” If one drug doesn’t work for you, don’t despair: another might. These drugs work in many, but not all cases, Barilla says. “If they don’t work, we can refer you to a urologist who may offer a surgical solution.” What causes this—and other—neuropathies? Poor blood sugar control. (Yet another good reason to keep your blood sugar numbers in check!) Low testosterone levels are the second main cause of ED in men with diabetes. (New research suggests men with diabetes are more than twice as likely to have low testosterone compared to other men.) “We can check these hormone levels with a simple blood test,” Barilla says. “If low testosterone is causing the ED, we prescribe a testosterone gel for men to rub on their belly, chest or arm, which helps bring those levels back to normal.” The gel works well, but only if testosterone levels are low in the first place, he says. Want to learn more about new medications for erectile dysfunction? Read the related Healthy You story “Viagra, the Next Generation.” This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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