Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that develop as a result of problems with insulin secretion, action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, more often known as diabetes (as it shall be in this article), was first identified as a health issue in the ancient world along with "sweet urine" and excessive muscle loss. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, cause glucose to leak into the urine, hence the term "candy urine."
Normal blood glucose levels are strictly controlled by the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Blood sugar levels are reduced by insulin. When blood glucose levels rise (for instance, following a meal), the pancreas releases insulin to balance the glucose level by promoting the uptake of glucose into body cells. Hyperglycemia occurs in diabetic patients when there is insufficient or absent insulin production or reaction. Diabetes is a chronic medical illness, meaning that even while it can be managed, it never fully goes away.
Diabetes affects much more than just a person's nutrition. Each aspect of their lives, including their sexual health, may be impacted. When a person has diabetes, their body can't use insulin as it should, which can result in elevated blood sugar levels. These may eventually result in issues including nerve damage and cardiovascular issues. Both have effects on sexual wellness. Additionally, diabetes can affect a person's intellectual capacity and sense of self, both of which can impact their sexual health.
At what age does a person develop diabetes?
Erectile dysfunction, often known as ED or impotence, is thought to affect anywhere between 35% and 75% of men with diabetes at some point in their lifespan.
Those with diabetes are more likely than men without diabetes to experience worsening erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years from now. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction increases as men with diabetes get older. About 50% to 60% of men with diabetes over the age of 50 have the potential to experience an erection. 95% of people over the age of 70 are likely to experience some erectile dysfunction issues.
What leads to ED in diabetic men?
Your circulatory and nervous systems are linked to the relationship between diabetes and ED. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can harm nerves and tiny blood vessels. A man's ability to achieve an erection association strong enough to engage in sexual activity may be hampered by damage to the neurons that control sexual stimulation and reaction. Additionally, reduced blood flow due to ruptured blood arteries might contribute to ED.
Some diabetic men, as well as males without the disease, experience increased retrograde ejaculation. Their semen travels backwards into the bladder rather than ejaculating through the penis. Although it wouldn't make sexual activity any less enjoyable, a man in this situation might also need medical assistance in order to become a parent.
Taking care of erectile dysfunction
If you have been diagnosed with ED, your doctor will likely recommend an oral drug like sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis). These prescription drugs help improve blood flow to the penis and are often well tolerated by most men.
You should be able to use one of these drugs while having diabetes. They don't negatively interact with diabetes medications like Glucophage (metformin) or insulin.
Diabetes and ED both have treatments available:
- Lipvas 40 mg (Atorvastatin)
- Januvia 100 mg (Sitagliptin)
- Vidalista 40 (Tadalafil)
- Fildena (Sildenafil)
Erectile dysfunction causes
Erectile dysfunction can be brought on by both physical and psychological factors, such as:
- Anxiety, stress, and trepidation
- Issues with relationships
- Poor health
- Abusing alcohol in excess
- Using cigarettes
- A few medicines
- A few actions
- Low levels of testosterone, a masculine hormone.
Physical erectile dysfunction typically manifests as a progressive loss of function over the course of months or years. Erections may also be psychological issues if they nevertheless occur randomly during the day or in the morning.
Erectile dysfunction diagnosis
The cause will determine how to treat erectile dysfunction. You should discuss the inconvenience with your doctor. Frequently, the answers to a few straightforward questions will help determine whether the issue is physical or psychological. If the blood flow to the penis is impacted, tests can determine this. Blood tests can also help determine whether hormone problems are causing the erectile dysfunction.
Why do diabetic men experience erectile dysfunction?
For a typical erection to last, there must be a neurologic reaction to increase arterial blood flow, simple muscle relaxation to allow for the increase in blood flow and a restriction of venous outflow. An erection begins in the brain, where it evolved. Arousal, a neurological reaction, drives the release of chemicals that relax the clean muscle mass in the penis. When the clean muscle groups relax and open, arterial blood flow will rise while venous outflow is constrained at the same time. The blood is trapped by this strain inside the corpora cavernosa. The enzyme Phosphodiesterase kind 5 (PDE-5) degrades the chemicals that caused the muscle to relax, allowing the muscle in the penis to constrict and veins to open. This gives the penis permission to return to a weak, flaccid state.
Remedies for erectile dysfunction that are not oral
Vacuum constriction devices, intraurethral alprostadil suppository or intracavernous injection treatment, and intercourse therapy are further forms of treatment.
The plastic tube used in vacuum pumps is where you place your penis. The pump creates a suction that draws blood into the penis, making it erect. It can either be battery- or hand-powered. To keep the penis upright, a rubber ring must be placed around its base. If you use anticoagulants or have a bleeding disorder, you should no longer use a vacuum pump.
Vidalista 60, a type of hormone medication that promotes blood flow to the penis, can also be administered using two remarkable methods:
- Intracavernosal injection, which involves injecting alprostadil into the genitalia.
- Intraurethral software, in which an alprostadil pellet (1.6 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length) is inserted via a urethral stick into the urethra.
If you don't respond to other therapies or are unwilling to try oral medications or vacuum pump therapy, your doctor may also prescribe alprostadil. You might also receive instructions on how to inject or insert alprostadil from your fitness centre.
Which treatment is the best for diabetes and ED?
Depending on the patient's health and ability to handle the treatment, the best course of action will be determined. Urologists are experts who can evaluate individual cases and choose the best course of action.
What are the prospects for erectile dysfunction with diabetes?
In this area, improvements are routine. For diabetic men with ED, better drugs, implants, suction devices, and suppositories have all become more popular.
