Diabetes, Men, and Erectile Dysfunction

By Timothy Barber, CEO/President

Barber D.M.E. Supply Group

. http://www.barberdmestore.com/

More Senior Health Articles

Diabetes, Men, and Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that affects a man's ability to get and sustain an erection that leads to positive sexual experiences. ED is often the first symptom that men may notice and the one that ultimately leads them to the doctor. In some cases, after they have sought medical help for ED, they are also diagnosed with diabetes.

Both men and women with diabetes can develop sexual problems due to damage to their nerves and small blood vessels. The likelihood of men suffering from ED or some other form of sexual problem is substantially higher than women suffering from a similar condition. The National Institutes of Health estimates that the prevalence of ED in men with diabetes ranges from 20% to 75%, while limited studies have shown that women with type 1 diabetes suffer sexual dysfunction at a rate of between 18% and 27%, and up to 42% for type 2 sufferers.

Risk factors associated with ED are attributed to and most commonly seen in men who

Have poor blood glucose control

Have high levels of blood cholesterol

Have high blood pressure

Are overweight

Are older than 40

Smoke

Are physically inactive

Treatments for ED caused by nerve damage (neuropathy) vary widely and range from oral medications, vacuum pumps, pellets placed in the urethra, shots directly into the penis, and surgery. While all of these are proven treatments, the use of a vacuum pump is the only solution, which doesn't require drugs in some form or another to help correct the problem.

Vacuum therapy is a highly recommended treatment as a first, safe, and successful treatment for ED. There are usually no harmful side effects, and it's highly successful whether your ED is mild or severe.

In addition to the benefits described on the use of the vacuum pump, the really good news is that this system is covered by Medicare (and most major insurance carriers).

If you suffer from ED and you thought all hope was lost of resuming a normal healthy sex life, this could be your solution. By speaking with your family doctor or urologist, you could be on your way to regaining that part of your life, which you thought was lost due to your existing medical condition.