Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
Not surprisingly, diabetes is one of the many underlying factors that may cause erectile dysfunction in men. In fact, at least 50 percent of diabetic men will experience difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. As they age, their chances of experiencing difficulty will continue to increase. There are a few treatments men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction can consider, but whether these treatments will be effective depends largely on the patient’s disease.
Available Treatments
There are treatments available to help men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction. There are three oral treatments men can try, Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. However, these medications have been shown to have less success in men with the disease. There is also a treatment that can be directly injected into the erection chamber which may facilitate an erection. This particular treatment has about a 60 to 80 percent success rate. Yet the treatment may be needed several times and over half of the patients receiving this type of treatment choose to stop after a few years.
Why Erectile Dysfunction?
Men with diabetes may be likely to develop erectile dysfunction over 10 to 15 years earlier than their non-diabetic counterparts. This is because diabetes has several complications that can influence the development of erectile dysfunction. A few of the main complications of diabetes include impairments in the nerves, blood vessels, and muscle function of the afflicted person. Since these are all key elements in a male’s maintaining an erection, once impaired, it can be extremely difficult for men with the disease to achieve and maintain an erection without assistance.
Even with the necessary hormones for erection present, though, it is still difficult for men to have and to maintain an erection. This is due to the fact that the blood vessels and nerves necessary in achieving an erection have been damaged by the disease. Men who have diabetes and who are concerned about developing erectile dysfunction should speak with their doctors about oral medications or alternative treatments. The effectiveness may depend on the type of diabetes present, so a doctor’s advice is the best route to take when deciding among erectile dysfunction treatments.
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