Why does diabetes cause erectile dysfunction?

Diabetes damages both blood vessels and nerves over time. Since erections require healthy blood flow and nerve function, diabetic men often experience ED earlier and more severely than non-diabetic men.

Can diabetic men take Viagra?

Often yes, but with caution. Many diabetic men also have heart conditions, and ED medications can interact with heart medications. Always consult your doctor, as they need to evaluate your complete health picture.

What's the best ED treatment for diabetic men?

Treatments that address blood flow issues may be particularly beneficial since vascular damage is central to diabetic ED. Shockwave therapy, which promotes new blood vessel growth, is worth considering alongside good diabetes management.

Medical stethoscope representing diabetes and ED connection

Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction: Understanding the Connection

September 13, 2021 Updated November 30, 2024 3 min read

There is a significant number of men who have diabetes and erectile dysfunction symptoms. It is estimated that about 35% to 75% of men with diabetes experience at least some degree of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime.

Men with diabetes also develop erectile dysfunction earlier. As men with diabetes age, erectile dysfunction becomes even more common - above the age of 70, there is about a 95% likelihood of having some difficulty with erectile dysfunction.

Why Is Diabetes Commonly Implicated In Erectile Dysfunction?

The reason why men with diabetes often have erectile dysfunction is complicated, but it boils down to impairments in nerve, blood vessel, and muscle function.

Getting an erection requires a lot of things to come together — there needs to be proper blood flow, nerve function, male hormones, and desire to be sexually stimulated. Diabetes interferes with some of these, namely blood flow and nerve function. As a result, getting a firm, quality erection can be difficult, even if the proper male hormones and sexual arousal are present.

What Is The Best Treatment For Men Who Have Diabetes And ED?

Men with diabetes can often pursue many of the ED treatment options available to anyone, but extra care should be taken in regard to taking prescription medications for ED such as Viagra or Cialis. These medications cause interactions with certain heart medications, and people with diabetes also tend to have problems with their heart. Talking to a doctor is necessary before pursuing a medication-based treatment route.

Beyond medications, there are several things available for ED such as

injections , vacuum devices, and penile prostheses . Additionally, for a natural, noninvasive treatment approach,

shockwave therapy

addresses the vascular issues that are central to diabetic ED.

Sources

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: “Erectile Dysfunction.”
American Diabetes Association: “Lifestyle Changes Improve Erectile Function.”

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