Various studies have shown that there is a link between your body’s blood sugar levels and your sexual health. If your levels are normal, the chance of encountering problems with your erectile function and reproductive health is low.
However, if you have diabetes, you have a high probability of suffering from sex and fertility issues that can negatively affect your life.
Diabetes Defined
Diabetes is a medical condition that is characterized by having too much glucose in the blood. It occurs if your pancreas is unable to produce insulin, the hormone in charge of lowering the body’s blood glucose levels. If it is not diagnosed or managed, it can bring about short-term and long-term problems that are hazardous to your health.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes has two types — type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
If you have type 1 diabetes, it means that your blood glucose problems started at an early age, probably around childhood to young adulthood. Your body does not have the capacity to make sufficient amounts of insulin to efficiently control your blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, if you have type 2 diabetes, it means that your high blood glucose levels are a result of poor diet, obesity, lack of physical activity or exercise, or family history of the disease.
Diabetes Prevention
Unfortunately, if you have type 1 diabetes, there is no way out for you. You have to live with it for your entire life.
Your doctor will prescribe you a lifelong insulin treatment, such as insulin injections every day, and advise you to eat a balanced diet to manage your blood sugar levels.
In the case of type 2 diabetes, it is possible to steer clear of it by making healthy choices in life.
You should eat a healthy and balanced diet, have a regular exercise routine, and ensure that you stay close to your ideal weight range to keep you safe and protected from this medical condition.
Common Sexual Health Problems in Men that are Caused by Diabetes
Being struck by diabetes is bad news. It is a serious medical condition that triggers a long list of symptoms and complications that can be life-threatening.
If it is not detected early on or is not managed properly, it can lead to nerve damage, kidney failure, blindness, poor blood circulation to your lower limbs that may require amputation later on, and a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, if you have diabetes, you have an increased chance of having various sexual health issues and concerns that include the following:
- Low sexual desire or libido
- Difficulty getting an erection
- Difficulty maintaining an erection
- Decrease in your testosterone levels
- Swelling or inflammation of the glans or head of your penis, a condition known as balanitis
- Your semen flowing back into your bladder, a condition known as retrograde ejaculation
Understanding the Relationship Between Low Sexual Desire or Libido and Diabetes
The levels of sexual desire or libido in men vary for each person, and they can change as they grow older, depending on relationship, personal, and biological factors.
However, if your interest in sex just drops drastically or completely disappears, that can be a warning sign that you have something serious that needs to be paid attention to.
Men with diabetes are often hit by a lack of enthusiasm for and interest in sexual activity.
This may be due to them feeling quite ill because of the symptoms and complications that come with the abnormal glucose levels in their body.
This may also be due to the decrease in their testosterone levels, which are a common negative effect of high blood sugar levels.
To avoid finding yourself in such as miserable situation, it is crucial that you find the most effective way to control the amount of glucose in your body, and the best method to increase your testosterone levels.
You have to go and consult a doctor to receive accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Usually, you will be told to alter your diet to something that contains less sugar and fats, and to start exercising regularly.
The closer you get to the normal blood sugar level, the better your feelings of sexual desire get. And for your testosterone, your doctor may prescribe pellets, injections, gels, supplements, or patches that boost testosterone, and advise you to eat natural testosterone-boosting foods, like oysters, beans, eggs, shellfish, tuna, and beef.
Taking a Closer Look at the Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Diabetes
According to studies, four in five men who are battling diabetes are in danger of developing erectile dysfunction, and they are two times as prone to experiencing erectile issues as those who do not have diabetes.
And as you grow older, your chances of being afflicted with both erectile dysfunction and diabetes increase, too.
If you have diabetes, several of your bodily systems will not be able to perform their functions well. Below are examples of such that affect your sexual and reproductive health:
- Diabetes has a negative impact on how your blood and blood vessels function. It causes poor blood circulation, resulting in insufficient blood flow to your penis. Because of this, getting and/or keeping an erection will be a major challenge.
- Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves in your penis.
- Diabetes can decrease the amount of testosterone, which is the male sex hormone, that your body produces and regulates.
To treat erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes, it is of utmost importance to properly control your body glucose levels. You should see your doctor as soon as possible to know what the best treatment medication solution for you is.
Furthermore, be ready to start making healthy lifestyle decisions. You should eat more fruits and vegetables, ditch foods with high fat and sugar content, and cut down on your alcohol consumption. You should also get into a regular workout regimen to keep your organs working and your body active.
