According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15.5 million men in the US have diabetes, and 1-in-2 of those men have sexual problems caused by diabetes. In fact, erectile dysfunction (ED) can be the first symptom of diabetes—particularly in men ages 45 and younger—even before diabetes is diagnosed. Men who already have diabetes may experience ED 10 – 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Although ED is common and affects men of all races, African-American men seem to be hardest hit.
Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which you are unable to get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse. You have ED when you can get an erection sometimes, but not every time you want to have sex; you can get an erection, but it does not last long enough for sexual satisfaction, or you are unable to get an erection at any time.
Diabetic neuropathy—damage to the nerves in the body, can cause ED. Neuropathy is a complication of diabetes caused by high blood glucose levels and high levels of fats, such as triglycerides in the blood. Poor diabetes control can damage the nerves and blood vessels in the body. Nerve damage and poor blood flow to the penis can lead to difficulty with arousal and the ability to get and maintain a rigid erection.
Your chances of developing diabetic neuropathy also increase if you are over the age of 40, have high blood pressure or kidney disease, are overweight, physically inactive, abuse alcohol, or smoke. Certain medications, psychological factors, and hormonal deficiencies can also cause ED.
The best way to prevent diabetic neuropathy is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Maintaining safe blood glucose levels protects nerves throughout the body.
If your blood glucose is elevated, the first treatment step is to bring blood glucose levels within the normal range to help prevent further nerve damage. Blood glucose monitoring, meal planning, and diabetes medicines or insulin will help control blood glucose levels. Good blood glucose control may also help prevent or delay the onset of further problems.
You can also lower your risk of ED by keeping your blood pressure, and cholesterol levels close to the target numbers your health care provider recommends.
RELATED: Five Causes of Erectile Dysfunction You Can Prevent
Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to prevent ED. Recent studies have shown an association between belly fat and ED. Belly fat indicates a higher level of harmful visceral fat—the type of fat associated with lower testosterone levels and inflammation which can cause ED. Men with a waist circumference of 42 inches are 50 percent more likely to have erectile dysfunction compared to those with waists of 32 inches. Additionally, research suggests moderate exercise can help restore sexual performance in obese men with ED.
If you are a smoker, quitting will lower your risk of developing ED due to nerve damage and also lower the risk for other health problems related to diabetes, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
You may find it embarrassing and difficult to talk with a healthcare professional about ED. However, it’s important to remember a healthy sex life can improve your overall quality of life. Health care professionals, especially urologists, are trained to speak to people about many kinds of sexual problems including ED.
Constance Brown-Riggs, is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of the Diabetes Guide to Enjoying Foods of the World, a convenient guide to help people with diabetes enjoy all the flavors of the world while still following a healthy meal plan. Follow Constance on social media @eatingsoulfully
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