Diabetes And Sex – Everything You Need To Know
Not tonight, honey! You love your partner, you’re feeling romantic, and the dim lights push you along to get intimate. Except that you can’t. You feel desire, but you aren’t aroused. The libido has gone for a long walk, and you don’t know if it’s ever coming back. Your partner will wonder what’s wrong with you and whether you still have feelings for them. You want to scream that yes, of course you do, but something’s come in the way of you expressing it. That something could be your diabetes. Shocking fact: Research shows that for men, there’s a more than 50 per cent probability that low libido is a result of high blood sugar. A poor sex life is a very good reason to meet your doctor, even if you aren’t comfortable with talking about sex. Let’s look at why diabetes and sex have such a serious impact on your marital life and how we can do the right things, to make a real difference. Diabetic Neuropathy Too much sugar in the blood damages nerves all over the body, a complication of diabetes called diabetic neuropathy. As if the damage from the sugar wasn’t enough, diabetes drugs join the party and deplete vital nutrients from your body. In the case of nerves, the affected vitamin is Vitamin B12. This vitamin is a critical component of nerve sheath in the human body. Think of it as the “insulation” in electrical wires. Poor insulating sheath means damaged nerves. It can cause tingling or numbness in hands and feet and even damage delicate nerves. The pleasure zones of the body are no exception to this affliction. Poor sensation in the sexual organs can be a real downer for arousal. If you can’t feel it, you don’t want it. Vascular Damage Another long term effect of diabetes is the damage to blood vessels. Damaged blood vessels mean, among othe Continue reading >>
Sexual Health
A healthy sexual relationship can be an important part of someone's life. When things go wrong, whether or not we have diabetes, many of us find it hard to accept that there might be a problem. It’s important to know support available. While most people with diabetes, both male and female, are able to lead completely normal sex lives, diabetes may contribute to sexual problems for some people The most common problem is erectile dysfunction in men (also known as impotence) which results in the inability to get or keep an erection long enough for intercourse. Ejaculation may or may not be affected. Fertility remains normal Both men and women with diabetes may also lose their sexual desire when their blood glucose levels are high Most men have an occasional problem with erectile dysfunction at some time in their life. This can be caused by many factors including being tired, stressed, and depressed or drinking too much alcohol. Some medications may also cause erectile dysfunction. This can include medications taken for high blood pressure, depression or stomach ulcers. It’s important to always tell your doctor about any medications you may be taking for other conditions. Reduced blood flow and nerve damage to the penis are generally the underlying reasons for erectile dysfunction for men with diabetes. Often men with diabetes who have the condition also have other complications related to nerve damage or blood circulation problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. Erectile dysfunction can be treated in a number of ways including: Tablets (e.g. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra) Prostaglandin injection into the side of the penis (e.g. Caverject) Devices such as the vacuum pump Surgery such as penile implants While tablets are easy to take, they m Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Sex
Tweet Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to complications. In some cases, sexual performance can be affected by diabetes. Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some kind of sexual problems or a loss of sexual desire as a result of diabetes. I am a diabetic man, what kind of problems could diabetes cause to my sex life? For men, diabetes can cause damage to the nervous system over a sustained period of time, also known as diabetic neuropathy. One aspect of this is the potential for diabetes to damage the erectile tissue leaving it impossible for a man to achieve or maintain an erection. Almost 1 in 3 men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be the way in which men discover that they have diabetes. However, through strict management if the disease through diet, exercise, pills and insulin injections, minor sexual problems usually recede and it is possible for the man to achieve and erection. I am a diabetic woman, what kind of problems could diabetes cause to my sex life? For some women with diabetes, vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina) can be recurrent. Vaginitis can be brought on by a number of different ways including bacterial inbalance of the vagina (bacterial vaginitis) yeast infections (thrush) or from chemical irritation, such as from soaps or fabric conditioners. This can make sex painful, and is heralded by itching or burning sensations. Cystitis can also be a recurrent problem for women with diabetes. Furthermore, some evidence indicates that, in a similar way to men being unable to maintain an erection, the woman’s clitoris may fail to respond to stimulation. Hypoglycemia and sex Hypoglycemia can occur during sex. You may also suffer from a night time hypo as the physical exertions of sex mean that in s Continue reading >>
Diabetes, Men, And Sex
Sexual dysfunction. You've seen the ads on television, you've heard the jokes, and, if you're like most men, you've tried your best to block it from your mind. But if you have diabetes, this is one touchy subject you shouldn't ignore. A full 75 percent of diabetic men have some trouble achieving or maintaining an erection long enough to have intercourse. But diabetes doesn't have to be a deathblow to your sex life. You can protect your sexual functioning by keeping your diabetes under control. And if the condition has already started to derail your physical relationships, your doctor can help you get back on track. How does diabetes cause sexual dysfunction? Erections take teamwork from several parts of the body: Your brain makes you aroused, your nerves sense pleasurable feelings, and your arteries carry a flood of blood to the penis. Unfortunately, poorly controlled diabetes can ruin that teamwork. Blood sugar that stays too high for too long can both deaden your nerves and damage the arteries that feed your penis. You can still get aroused, but you'll have trouble turning those feelings into action. The breakdown doesn't happen overnight. Most men have diabetes for many years before they notice a problem with erections. Diabetic men rarely have any erectile dysfunction before they reach 30. The key is controlling your diabetes. But when it comes to blood sugar, how high is too high? There's a national movement to describe sugar levels in terms of A1C (also known as glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c)), a lab test that reports average blood glucose over a period of two to three months. If your A1C is below 7 percent, your blood sugar is under control. But as A1C gets higher than 7 percent your long-term risk of damage to nerves and arteries increases, and that can also Continue reading >>
Sex & Diabetes By Janis Roszler
A welcome relief for the 12 million men and women who suffer from a diabetesrelated sexual dysfunction Sex & Diabetes is the first book ever to deal exclusively with sexual problems as they relate to diabetes and the only book to discuss issues that relate to both men and women. It also shows you how sexual problems can be prevented or delayed and discusses treatments A welcome relief for the 12 million men and women who suffer from a diabetesrelated sexual dysfunction Sex & Diabetes is the first book ever to deal exclusively with sexual problems as they relate to diabetes and the only book to discuss issues that relate to both men and women. It also shows you how sexual problems can be prevented or delayed and discusses treatments options that currently exist. Sex & Diabetes highlights the value of communication between sexual partners and the importance of having an open relationship with healthcare professionals. Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LD/N, is a speaker, producer, and radio host and has been counseling individuals with diabetes for over 20 years. She writes the popular Dear Janis column in Diabetes Positive!, and monthly health columns for Ediets.com, Diabeteshealth.com, dlife.com, and The Florida Jewish News. Her radio show, Janis Jump Start to Good Health, is broadcast in south Florida. Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN,CDE, has been working in the area of diabetes and mens sexual health for the past 20 years. She currently manages the outpatient diabetes program at Botsford Center For Health Improvement. ...more Continue reading >>
How To Keep Sex Alive And Well When You Have Diabetes
A chronic illness has a way of throwing a wrench into many aspects of our lives, including sex. Type 2 diabetes is one such disease in which sexuality is commonly affected and difficulties experienced by both men and women with this condition. Not only can this disease cause sexual complications for both genders, but it can also cause gender-specific issues. Sexuality issues affecting both men and women There are several common sexuality problems shared by both men and women with type 2 diabetes. One is a decrease in libido, or loss of sex drive. Low libido in type 2 diabetes can be a result of: Side effects of medications for high blood pressure or depression Extreme fatigue Lack of energy Depression Hormonal changes Stress, anxiety, and relationship issues Diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage associated with diabetes, can cause numbness, pain, or lack of feeling in the genitals. This may also inhibit the ability to have an orgasm or to feel sexual stimulation. The side effects of diabetic neuropathy may make sex painful or unenjoyable. To combat the issue of type 2 diabetes negatively affecting a couple's sex life, communication is important. Couples need to open up and feel free to talk about the issue and to seek out a solution to the problem by discussing this with their primary care physician. Sexuality issues affecting men with type 2 diabetes The most widely reported sexuality issue by men is erectile dysfunction (ED). Occasionally, a man may first be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when he seeks out treatment for ED. ED is a condition commonly found in men with diabetes as they are two to three times more likely to develop it, and about half of all men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will have ED within 10 years of their diagnosis The reason for increased Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes And Intimacy: Reducing Burden In The Bedroom
Here on Glu, we offer people living with type 1 diabetes the chance to be open and honest, sharing challenges and gaining support from others who know how much this disease can get in the way of life. Having an anonymous forum allows us to gain real perspective on some deeply personal matters. Several months ago, we polled the community on one of our most personal topics to date: physical intimacy. In response, 63% of the community reported that T1D has had a negative effect in this area of their lives, blaming devices, sudden swings in blood sugar, and recurrent infections. Likewise, there is at least one published research study proving that people with diabetes and poor glycemic control reported significantly reduced intimacy and satisfaction in their marriages(1). In a follow-up question, we learned how people’s sex lives have been affected. Here is a list of the most commonly reported problems, and potential strategies for solving them. “My blood glucose is too low for sex.” Having low blood sugar (BG) can interrupt anything; you just have to put everything else on hold and deal with it immediately. As the most commonly mentioned barrier to sex (one user commented that low blood sugar can “really kill the moment”), knowing your BG prior to sex is always a smart idea, as is adjusting any dose of rapid insulin prior to activity. Additionally, having a small snack before any physical activity may help prevent a low. You can also keep some ‘fast carbs’ near the bed, such as juice, gummy snacks, or glucose tabs. If you do experience a low during sex, despite your precautions, openness and communication can be key. If you’re intimate with someone, you should be able to trust them to try to help you in a medical situation, such as a low BG. And expect that Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Sex: What To Know
Amy Tenderich was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2003. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Diabetes Mine and co-authored the book Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes. You will frequently find her speaking at diabetes, health, and social media events across the country. No matter how independent you are about managing your diabetes, when it comes to sex, there’s going to be someone else involved! It’s up to you to help your spouse, significant other, or latest squeeze get comfortable experiencing diabetes up-close and personal. Keep in mind there can be problems in the bedroom, as lots of things mix well with sex—but diabetes isn’t necessarily one of them. This by no means rules out loving relationships or a satisfying sex life, but as always with diabetes, it may take some extra work to achieve these things. For a closer look at this topic, please read this month’s edition of “Living with Diabetes: The Real-Life Stuff You Need to Know”: Last year, when we queried the diabetes community online about their love lives, almost everyone who wrote in had the same overall piece of advice for couples: communicate, communicate, communicate! Talking through problems has always been the No. 1 piece of advice for … Read more >> If you’re in the dating phase, it’s extremely important to set the right tone on the way you want your diabetes to be handled from the start. This begins with disclosure. Will you tell a potential new partner that you have diabetes on the first date? Or even before that? Or would you … Read more >> Once an area reserved for older men who had diabetes for years, sexual problems with diabetes have “come out of the closet” of late. For men, this mainly means erectile dysfunction (ED), which can be caused by either Continue reading >>
Sex Lives Of Diabetic Men Improve With Weight Loss
Sex Lives of Diabetic Men Improve with Weight Loss If you're an overweight man with diabetes, changing your eating habits may improve your life more than popping a pill can. A new study concludes that even for men with diabetes that's well-controlled by medication, dieting can improve the erectile dysfunction and urological problems commonly experienced. "Lower urinary tract symptoms are often ignored," said Dr. Gary Wittert, an endocrinologist at the University of Adelaide in Australia, who led the research. "But they may affect up to 40 percent of the overweight, diabetic population." These symptoms, Wittert said, include erectile dysfunction and overactive bladder syndrome, which is often characterized by urinating frequently and urgently. "Medication is expensive, medical care is expensive, here's a lifestyle change that's quick, cheap, easy, and can improve health substantially beyond anything that medication can do," Wittert said. The study is published online today (Aug. 5) in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Wittert and his colleagues studied a group of 31 obese men with Type 2 diabetes, and screened them for sexual and urological problems. They put the men on one of two diets: a low-calorie diet using liquid meal replacements, or a high-protein diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meat and fish. After eight weeks, the men on the liquid meal diet had lost between 8 and 10 percent of their body weight, and the men on the high-protein diet had lost 5 percent of their weight. In addition, both groups of men said they had improved urological and sexual health. The study followed the men for a year, switching all the men to the high-protein, more nutritional diet after eight weeks. By the end, the men from both groups had lost around 10 percent of their weight and Continue reading >>
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How Diabetes Affects Sexual Function
Diabetes can affect sexual function, and as uncomfortable as it may sound, you may need to discuss this with your doctor (and certainly with your partner). To help you out, I have done research to bring you information about this most sensitive of subjects. First of all, having any chronic disease may in itself cause anxiety, which can result in sexual dysfunction. But having said that, it is also true that diabetics do report more sexual dysfunction than the populations at large. In his book Talking About Sex (American Psychiatric Press, Inc., 1995), Derek C. Polonsky, MD states that 20% of people with diabetes, both men and women, report sexual dysfunction. Please read the following with an open mind, not looking for something bad which will happen to you or a loved one. Rather use it as a tool to make you better informed, and more able to talk to the professionals in your life who can help when you need it. As Dr. Polonsky says, "What starts out as a physical problem is compounded by the emotional reaction to it." This article is shared to help all of us deal with the physical before this occurs. Research on Diabetes and Sexual Dysfunction There is more research on sexual dysfunction in males than females. In males, current research points to the need to develop a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation and treatment of diabetic patients with sexual dysfunction because of the high incidence of major depression and anxiety disorders noted in impotent men with neuropathy as compared to those who did not have depression, anxiety, or impotence, but had neuropathy. One caveat here is that just learning to cope with a chronic disease may cause psychiatric problems which may lead to lack of compliance, and may snowball into chronic complications, and so the process feeds o Continue reading >>
How Diabetes Can Affect Your Sex Life
Most people are aware that diabetes contributes to heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, blindness and renal failure. It’s a progressive disease that can debilitate one’s body, organ by organ, when left out of control. But did you know that, long before any of these take place, diabetes can kill your sex life? Diabetes itself is not responsible for the damage done to the body. Instead, it is the rise in blood sugar that comes from either insufficient insulin release (type 1 diabetes) or a body’s resistance to the effects of insulin (type 2 diabetes). Unlike type 1 diabetes, which starts in childhood, type 2 diabetes begins in adults and is almost always related to being obese or overweight for some time. Often, it can be reversed if you return to a normal weight. Many doctors are happy if they see their diabetic patients maintain their blood sugar under 150, or even 180 if they’ve had the disease for a while. I believe, however, these levels still permit slow degeneration of the tissues and nerves of the body, which can severely affect quality of life. Ideally, a level between 80 and 125 is best. Good sexual functioning depends on good blood flow and the ability to not only perceive sensations, but to have the organs and tissues respond to these sensations. When your blood sugar is high, cells cannot function properly and nerve endings become damaged. This can cause numbness—or worse, uncomfortable tingling. Uncontrolled levels of blood sugar also damage the blood vessels by decreasing their ability to relax and contract when needed, as well as by raising the risk of atherosclerosis, which in turn impairs blood flow. These changes can affect your sex life, too. Nerve damage can result in decreased sensation in the genitals, which makes it more di Continue reading >>
Erectile Dysfunction And Diabetes: Take Control Today
Erectile dysfunction is a common problem for men who have diabetes — but it's not inevitable. Consider prevention strategies, treatment options and more. Erectile dysfunction — the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex — is common in men who have diabetes. It can stem from problems caused by poor long-term blood sugar control, which damages nerves and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can also be linked to other conditions common in men with diabetes, such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Having erectile dysfunction can be a real challenge. It can leave you and your partner feeling frustrated and discouraged. Take steps to cope with erectile dysfunction — and get your sex life back on track. Talk to an expert Many men are reluctant to discuss erectile dysfunction with their doctors. But don't let embarrassment keep you from getting help. One small conversation can make a big difference. Here's what to do: Tell your doctor what's going on. Your doctor will consider underlying causes of your erectile dysfunction and can give you information about medication and other erectile dysfunction treatments. Find out your options. Ask what you need to do to control diabetes. Careful blood sugar control can prevent nerve and blood vessel damage that can lead to erectile dysfunction. Ask your doctor if you're taking the right steps to manage your diabetes. Ask about other health problems. It's common for men with diabetes to have other chronic conditions that can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. Work with your doctor to make sure you're addressing any other health problems. Check your medications. Ask your doctor if you're taking any medications that might be worsening your erectile problems, such as drugs used to treat depres Continue reading >>
How Diabetes Affects Your Sex Life
It's easy to pin a lagging libido on stress, depression, age, or lack of sleep. But if your sexual feelings have changed or if intercourse has become uncomfortable or nearly impossible, either as a result of chronically high blood glucose levels (an occasional high level will not cause long-term problems) or nerve problems, diabetes could be the cause. Experts estimate that 75 percent of men and 35 percent of women with diabetes experience some sexual problems due to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) to the nerves that stimulate normal sexual response. The good news: Research has shown that people can lower their risk for diabetes-related sexual problems by taking steps to control their diabetes, including: The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), a 10-year National Institutes of Health study of individuals with type 1 diabetes, found that improved diabetes control decreased the risk of developing neuropathy by 60 percent. This means the steps you can take to manage your diabetes are the same keys that open the doors to a healthy sexual relationship. What Women Should Know About Sex and Diabetes Women with diabetes may find it difficult to stimulate lubrication, experience orgasm, or even feel sexual desire due to nerve damage. These steps can reduce sexual complications and increase pleasure. Get rid of dryness: For persistent vaginal dryness, purchase a water-base vaginal lubricant over the counter from any pharmacy. You might also work on relaxing the muscles around the vagina with Kegel exercises: contracting your pelvic muscles to control the flow of urine. Lose weight: Being overweight can contribute to low self-esteem and loss of libido. A recent Duke University study found that shedding weight (17.5 percent of body weight) helped obese men and women Continue reading >>
Diabetes & Your Sex Life
Helpful Tips for People with Diabetes - Improve Sexual Function and Libido Been in the mood for love lately? If the answer is not so much, know that it's not just you. Approximately 50 percent of men and 35 percent of women with type 2 diabetes experience sexual difficulties. That's no surprise, considering the host of physical and psychological challenges that often accompany diabetes. Still, you can clear sexual hurdles and attain an active love life. More than 60 percent of partnered, middle-aged people with diabetes have sex at least two or three times a month, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care. That frequency is comparable to people in the same age group without diabetes. "Don't give up and assume sex is just another thing diabetes will take from you," says Janis Roszler, R.D., C.D.E., M.S.F.T., author of Sex and Diabetes: For Him and For Her (American Diabetes Association, 2007). "Reliable treatments and coping strategies are available for physical as well as psychological issues." Rediscover your sexual self with the help of these expert tips. 1. Balance Blood Sugar The first step in addressing sexual problems (and most other diabetes complications) is to make sure your glucose levels are well-controlled. High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage (neuropathy) and impair circulation, which can lead to decreased erections in men, lack of lubrication in women and difficulties in achieving orgasm for both. Controlling blood sugar also keeps chronic vaginal infections—a common complaint in women with diabetes—at bay. "Plus, when your blood sugar level is too high, you often feel lousy, which hardly puts you in the mood for sex," says Joel Zonszein, M.D., director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bro Continue reading >>
Sexual Health – Men
Diabetes affects many aspects of your physical and mental health. Sexual health is something that can be difficult to talk about and often people suffer in silence. However it is very important that you do talk to someone about any sexual health problems or difficulties, as there are things that can help prevent and manage any issues. Most importantly these problems can affect relationships, and as your partner is vital to your overall wellbeing, any issues need to be discussed and sorted out so you can feel united in your relationship and your lives. Diabetes can affect both men and women’s sexual health. This page will give some information about men’s sexual health. You can find out more about women’s sexual health here. Men, diabetes and sexual health ( From Andrology Australia Men with diabetes are at greater risk of sexual and reproductive health problems including: Erectile problems Testosterone (or androgen) deficiency Lack of libido (sexual desire) Retrograde ejaculation (semen flows back into the bladder) Balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis) Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction What is erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction means that a man can not get or keep an erection that allows sexual activity with penetration. Erectile problems are not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem, either physical, psychological or a mixture of both. How common is erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes? Very common. Estimates suggest that up to four in every five men with diabetes will experience erectile problems, and they are twice as likely to have erectile problems as men without diabetes. Age also increases the risk of getting both diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Often erectile problems develop after a man has had diabetes for several yea Continue reading >>
