{"id":46837,"date":"2021-11-18T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T14:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=46837"},"modified":"2024-05-15T17:17:11","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T21:17:11","slug":"erectile-dysfunction-and-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction-and-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Are erectile dysfunction and diabetes connected?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever watched a football game or a baseball game on television, you\u2019ve likely seen the ads for erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments. Be ready when the time is right, these men\u2019s health ads promise. And as men get older, they may experience more of those occasions when they might need a little boost to help out \u201cwhen the time is right.\u201d That\u2019s because age is a major factor in the incidence of erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/a>, regardless of any health conditions that a man might have.
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But having diabetes increases the likelihood of experiencing ED even more. Fortunately, there are some treatments that you can try to ward off this particular complication of diabetes (and aging). Here\u2019s what you need to know about the association between diabetes and ED.<\/p>\n

Can diabetes cause erectile dysfunction?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s answer the big question first: Yes, there is an association between erectile dysfunction and diabetes. But it\u2019s important to understand what that means.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cErectile dysfunction is a well-recognized complication in diabetes mellitus and it is common in older men,\u201d wrote the authors of a <\/span>2016 report<\/span><\/a> in the <\/span>Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.<\/span><\/i> \u201cAlso, decreased libido and orgasmic dysfunction are commonly associated with erectile dysfunction in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is, men with Type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased likelihood of developing ED. The incidence of ED in men with any form of diabetes can vary, of course. But one group of researchers analyzed 145 studies that incorporated nearly 89,000 men, and their <\/span>2017 analysis<\/span><\/a> noted that the overall prevalence of ED in men with diabetes was nearly 53%. And their research also indicates that Type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction is more common than Type 1 diabetes and erectile dysfunction. In fact, they found that the rate of ED in men with Type 2 diabetes was 66.3%, compared with 37.5% in men with Type 1 diabetes. Additionally, a <\/span>SingleCare survey<\/span><\/a> found that 19% of respondents believed their ED was caused by diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Erections are more complex than you might think. According to urologist Thomas Masterson, MD, an assistant professor in the department of urology with the <\/span>University of Miami Miller School of Medicine<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0 a man needs five elements for a successful erection: blood flow, nerve function, appropriate levels of the right hormones (such as testosterone), relaxation, and sexual stimulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

But people with diabetes, with their higher blood glucose levels, tend to develop some damage to their small blood vessels and nerves. Over time, especially in people with poorly controlled diabetes, this leads to complications of diabetes like microvascular disease, such as diabetic retinopathy, kidney disease, and peripheral nerve damage in the extremities, explains John Anderson, MD, a <\/span>Diabetes Leadership Council<\/span><\/a> medical adviser.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The blood vessels in the penis are also very small, and they\u2019re subject to the same potential for damage, which can, yes, impede a man\u2019s ability to get and maintain an erection.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Mayo Clinic, other causes of ED include:<\/span><\/p>\n