Diabetes & Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction means difficulty obtaining or keeping an erection. For some men, it can be as psychologically damaging as it is physically damaging. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common symptom for men who have blood flow problems because of diabetes.

Cause

• Diabetes, a condition in which the body has difficulty processing blood sugar, causes damage to blood vessels and nerves. This damage prevents blood from flowing as efficiently as it normally would. Because an erection occurs when the penis fills with blood, this damage can impede the ability to obtain or keep a firm erection.

  Some people with diabetes take medication to lower their blood pressure, and that can make erectile dysfunction more likely.

Risk

• Diabetes increases the risk of erectile dysfunction, and it induces the condition as many as 10 to 15 years sooner than most men typically experience ED. Men older than 50 who have diabetes have an even greater risk (50 percent to 60) of developing ED. And diabetes causes erectile dysfunction in 95 percent of men older than 70 who have diabetes.

Significance

• Erectile dysfunction can cause significant stress in romantic and sexual relationships. Because some men feel shame at experiencing ED, they might feel reluctant to talk about it to their loved ones or medical professionals.

Prevention

• Men can reduce the probability of experiencing erectile dysfunction with diabetes by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stress control such as yoga or meditation can help.

  Tobacco use can restrict blood vessels and contribute to erectile dysfunction. Alcohol can damage blood vessels and similarly add to ED.

  If "you're well rested, you're less likely to struggle with erectile dysfunction," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Solution

• If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, your doctor might prescribe medication to treat it. Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are all used to treat ED.

  Your doctor also might recommend non-medicinal treatments such as intracavernous injection therapy, vacuum constriction devices (penis pumps), intraurethral therapy, and sex therapy to promote and help you sustain erections.