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Loading ...What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body does not appropriately utilize glucose due to problems with insulin. Insulin is a hormone that functions to transport glucose into the cells. Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, killing them, and thus radically reducing insulin production. Type-2 diabetes occurs when cells develop insulin resistance and so no longer absorb insulin. The end result is the same: the cells are not getting the glucose they need to function appropriately.
Symptoms
The symptoms of diabetes include:
- fatigue
- constant thirst and urination
- nausea
- weight loss
- blurred vision
- infections
- wounds and sores that take a long time to heal.
If diabetes is left uncontrolled, it can lead to nerve damage, especially in the extremities, known as diabetic neuropathy. This means that the affected limbs are less responsive and may become numb.
How Can Diabetes Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Several factors that go with diabetes can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
First, diabetic neuropathy can make the penis unresponsive to physical stimulation. Since this is an important part of arousal, especially in older men, it can directly contribute to erectile problems.
Second, blood vessels that have been damaged by diabetes cannot release nitric oxide, a chemical messenger integral in having an erection. Nitric oxide causes the smooth muscles of the penis to relax, thereby allowing blood to flood in and cause the penis to become erect. Without this chemical signal, the muscles will not relax, and blood flow will be insufficient to cause an erection.
Third, being diabetic increases the risk of developing other chronic conditions that can contribute to ED. In particular, diabetics are at an increased risk of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels. High blood pressure exacerbates the damage to blood vessels, resulting in even less nitric oxide being released. In addition, most medications for hypertension can lead directly to ED. High cholesterol clogs arteries and decreases blood flow into the penis.
What Can Be Done to Treat ED in Diabetics?
Many of the ED related problems in diabetics can be avoided if the condition is caught early and carefully controlled. Men who are at higher risk of developing diabetes, whether because of genetic or lifestyle factors (i.e. being overweight and eating an unhealthy diet), should see a physician on a regular basis to monitor blood sugar levels.
Learn more about Erectile Dysfunction here.
Sources:
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes-overview
http://www.webmd.com/solutions/diabetes_and_your_sex_life
Written by Hannah Evans for MicroNutra Health™