Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Viagra and diabetes - the risk of male impotence

Do you have problems with erection? Erectile disorders aren't quite rare, especially in those men who have blood sugar problems and diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual disorder in men, which is characterized by the decreased ability to get and keep erections hard enough for having penetrative sex. Despite the fact that ED has a purely physical manifestation, it is a psychological problem too, as it affects a man's overall quality of life and causes relationship problems. The causes behind erectile dysfunction are numerous and range from health problems to substance abuse and medication side effects.


Being unable to control blood sugar levels is the primary reason for diabetic men to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Arteries tend to get damaged by high blood sugar contents and as a result less blood is able to flow to certain parts of the body, the penis being among them.


However, diabetes isn't the only condition that is known to cause erectile problems. Numerous physical conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension, neurological conditions, heart diseases, hormonal imbalance and blood vessel disorders raise the risk of experiencing problems with erection. Moreover, erection issues can be cause by medication side effects and substance abuse (alcohol, street drugs, smoking, etc.) Besides, certain psychological conditions are also known to cause sexual disorders in men: depression, anxiety, relationship problems, mental illnesses, etc.


Truth is that it is possible to control and prevent the development of such sexual problems. Some of the easiest and most obvious ways to maintain sexual health include control over the sugar and cholesterol levels, loss of any excessive weight, regular exercises and healthy lifestyle. Numerous studies confirm that men who lose weight and are generally more active tend to have much lower risk of ED then overweight inactive men.


Sometimes, medications used for controlling diabetes and blood sugar levels can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. In this case you should contact your doctor and ask for your medication to be changed. You should also consult regarding any other prescription and non-prescription drugs that you are taking on a regular basis.


Unfortunately, medications such as Cialis and Viagra, which are very effective in relieving ED, often fail in men with diabetes because of the high sugar levels and damaged blood vessels associated with the condition. Still, if you choose to buy Viagra and use it for boosting your sexual abilities, you should consult with your doctor regarding the dosage as it may require adjustments to your condition.


Other methods of erectile function enhancement can have higher success rates than drugs like Viagra. Penile injections, vacuum pumps and implants are as effective as in all other men. However, if speaking of surgeries, the risk of infections in men with diabetes is higher and doctors rarely choose this type of treatment to restore sexual functions in diabetic men. Testosterone therapy can also be used, however it should be done under strict doctor supervision, especially in men with diabetes who are still producing testosterone.


As you see, even having diabetes doesn't necessarily mean that you are doomed. There are many ways to help retain sexual abilities even in diabetic men and it's up to you to make the necessary lifestyle changes in order to control and prevent the development of such problems in the future.

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