Is Diabetes Wrecking Your Intimate Moments?

by Julia Hanf

Sexual dysfunction is one of the few disorders which are rampant amongst both male and female diabetics. The primary reason for these disorders is the nerve damage diabetes brings about because of the abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood, which is further impaired by the poor blood circulation most victims of diabetes suffer from. As a result, the victims response to sexual stimuli is hampered due to the poor transfer of neural signals from the brain to the various parts of the body, while the impaired flow of blood to the genitals decreases the sensation in this part of the body, thereby reducing the individuals sexual desire and response.

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 first step towards recovery is to talk things out with your physician, so that he can scrutinize your medical history and even conduct physical examinations to pinpoint the exact cause of this malady. Your doctor may also recommend certain vaginal lubricant creams to reduce the pain caused by vaginal dryness, or ask you to practice Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles, which hold urine in your bladder.

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 youre 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 havent begun already, master your diabetes today, to ensure a future bereft of health complications and compromises that your disease forces you to undergo!

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.