Diabetes And Sexual Health – A Few Pointers To Never Forget

Diabetes is defined as a condition in which the individual is unable to transform the glucose he consumes, into the energy his body thrives on, thus bringing about incessantly high levels of sugar in his bloodstream. The implications of this disease are far reaching and encompass cardiovascular diseases, renal disorders and even neural damage.

However, what many diabetics are still relatively unaware about is the impact their condition has on their sexual health. This subject, although a very pertinent one, is as of yet a delicate matter on account of the victims’ reluctance to discuss it with their physicians. As a result, many victims of diabetes continue to subject themselves to sexual dysfunctions even though help is readily available, and close at hand.

Diabetes-induced sexual dysfunction affects members of both sexes equally, and with an alarming regularity. The root cause underlying these complications is the damage which the glucose-sated blood brings about to the nerve endings in the body. As a result, neural responses, which are signals sent by the brain to the various parts of the body and back, are hampered, making it difficult for your body to respond in accordance with the instructions your brain gives it. Diabetics are also prone to poor blood circulation, which plays another crucial role in undermining their sexual performance. When the flow of blood to the genitals is reduced, it decreases the sensation in these areas as well, impairing the victim’s sexual desire and sexual functioning.

Men are most commonly plagued by erectile dysfunction, which is the term used to describe the condition in which the victim is unable to attain or hold an erection which is firm enough to allow sexual intercourse. This disorder affects almost 85% of all diabetic men across the world, and is further complicated by the unforeseen side-effects of certain forms of diabetes medication, or external factors like smoking, uninhibited consumption of alcohol and even kidney disorders. Treatment of this disorder is with the use of oral medication, vacuum pumps and even surgical remedies depending on how severe the condition is.

Besides erectile dysfunction, diabetic men also suffer from a condition called retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when their semen is diverted to the bladder instead of the penis at the time of ejaculation. This semen dissipates into the urine and is excreted from the body, which poses several fertility-related issues over the course of time. The initial signs of this disorder are if your urine appears cloudier than usual or if the amount of semen you discharge at the time of ejaculation is lesser than before. It is here that you need to consult with your physician, and even get a urine sample tested, to check for retrograde ejaculation, after which your physician will prescribe medication to strengthen the muscles of your bladder neck

Women who suffer from diabetes are also subject to a gamut of sexual problems which arise from the damage to the nerve cells which line the vagina. The most common hindrance is vaginal dryness, which causes discomfiture during intercourse, inhibiting sexual desire over time. Diabetes medication may further reduce sexual responses in women, affecting their ability to become or stay aroused and reach orgasms.

The most important aspect of the process of recovery is to be honest about your condition with your physician, to enable him to pronounce an accurate diagnosis. Your physician may also want to study your medical history and conduct physical examinations to isolate the very root of these dysfunctions and then prescribe vaginal lubricant creams for pain relief. Kegel exercises are also very effective in strengthening the muscles which hold urine in your bladder, thus allowing you better control over your blood circulation.

Although the diabetes-induced sexual dysfunctions are many, the primary cause of all of these is a poorly managed disease, which is the perpetrator of nerve damage or poor blood circulation. If your body does indicate any signs of diabetes-related sexual dysfunctions, it is advisable you seek treatment immediately, while also getting more serious about you’re your diabetes management routine. No matter how nascent your dysfunction may be, you are still at a risk of succumbing to its more devious aspects if you continue to allow your diabetes to get the better for you. So, if you haven’t begun already, master your diabetes today, to ensure a future bereft of health complications and compromises that your disease forces you to undergo!

 

About the Author:

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.