This information has been reprinted courtesy of the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center (www.erectile-dysfunction-treatment.org) for personal use only.

Many men with diabetes also have impotence

Failure to get an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse is called erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence. Many men with diabetes are impotent.

There are several important facts to know about diabetes and ED:

• Impotence can be an early sign of diabetes.

• A diabetic man is two to five times more likely to develop impotence than a man who is not a diabetic.

• Men with diabetes tend to develop impotence 10-15 years earlier than men without diabetes.

• More than 50% of men develop diabetic impotence within 10 years of getting diabetes.¹

• 50%-60% percent of diabetic men over age 50 have some problem with impotence.¹

• 50%-75% of men with diabetes will experience some degree of impotence during their lives.

• 9% of men with diabetes age 20-29 experience impotence. 95% of men with diabetes experience impotence by age 70.¹

  ¹ www.diabetes.org/DiabetesReviews

Having diabetes, however, does not guarantee that you will become impotent. Keeping your diabetes under control can significantly reduce the risk of ED.

If you do have erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes, it can be treated.

What is diabetes?

The body makes a hormone called insulin. Insulin lets cells in the body accept sugar in foods.

Diabetes occurs when the body stops making insulin, or does not make enough of it. When that happens, sugar cannot get into the cells and they die.

Diabetes is a serious disease. A person can get it at any age. Most people who have diabetes, though, get it during middle age or beyond.

Two types of diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. People with this type of diabetes do not make insulin at all. They must take insulin shots to survive. People with Type 1 diabetes usually get it before age 30.

Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin dependent diabetes. Most people with diabetes have this type. A person with Type 2 diabetes may not make enough insulin, or cannot use the insulin his body does make. In many cases, a person with Type 2 diabetes can manage the disease with a healthy diet, exercise, and weight control. Doctors may also prescribe drugs to help the body use insulin.

How diabetes is related to erectile dysfunction

To get an erection, you need healthy nerves and blood vessels, male hormones, and a desire for sex. Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels that control your erection. Even if you have the hormones you need and want sex, you still may not be able to get a firm erection.

If you have diabetes, you can reduce your risk of developing impotence by keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. It will also help to quit smoking, drink less alcohol, and control your blood pressure.

Diabetic impotence can be treated

If you think you have diabetic impotence, see your doctor as soon as possible. Only a doctor can decide if you have erectile dysfunction, and whether it is related to diabetes.

Ask your diabetologist or endocrinologist to refer you to a urologist who specializes in impotence.

Effective treatments for diabetic impotence include ViagraŽ. Viagra works by stimulating blood flow to your penis. This drug often is the first treatment for impotence. Unfortunately, Viagra fails for 30% - 40% of the men who try it.

Because diabetes can damage your peripheral vascular system, Viagra may not be appropriate. Many men with diabetes have other cardiovascular problems, and Viagra may not be a suitable treatment. Only a doctor can decide if you should try Viagra.

When Viagra doesn't work, there are other treatments available, including penile implants, vacuum devices, drug injections, and urethral suppositories.

For men with diabetes, implants are among the most effective treatments for impotence. Implants have been enhanced and perfected over a period of 25 years. Nearly 300,000 men have had a penile implant. Clinical studies show a very high degree of satisfaction with the devices.

The best treatment for diabetic impotence depends on many things. These include a man's health and personal and physical tolerance for the treatment. Work with your doctor (usually a urologist specializing in the treatment of impotence) and your partner to choose the best treatment for you.

Click for more information about treatments for impotence.

This page revised March 2005

Copyright 2005 Erectile Dysfunction Information Center. All rights reserved. This site contains information about erectile dysfunction (impotence) for men with ED and their partners. Nothing in this site may be reproduced without written authorization from the Erectile Dysfunction Information Center.