Special Concerns of Male Diabetics
Impotence, generally defined as a man’s inability to achieve and maintain an erection of the penis during sexual intercourse, is common in non diabetic as well as diabetic men. Impotence has many causes, including emotional ones such as anxiety and fear. It can result from an organic problem, such as systemic or vascular disease or a hormone deficiency. It can happen because of neurological reasons, including brain disease or damaged nerves. Abuse of alcohol and other drugs contributes to impotency. Sometimes side effects of certain medications cause temporary impotency.
While physicians say that there is a higher frequency of impotence in males with diabetes, only some diabetic men notice impotency or become impotent as a result of their diabetes. When nerve endings are affected by the disease, however, reduced ability to achieve erection will occur. Vascular problems such as hardening of the arteries also contribute to the inability to achieve and maintain an erection, because an adequate supply of blood must flow to the penis. Your health care team will meet with you and your partner to talk about your adjustments, both psychological and physical, to any changes in your physiological function. Some of the aspects they will probably mention are as follows:
- See your physician right away if you are experiencing impotence. It is possible that the condition is occurring as a response to some other factor and not your diabetes.
- Reduce or eliminate use of alcohol. This may alleviate the impotence.
Hugs Help
Your needs Jour love and emotional support are the same as those of non diabetics. Your health care team will help you balance these needs with the special features of your diabetic life style. A combination of acceptance, understanding, and team work will help you and those you care about live a happy life.
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