For those not familiar with diabetes, there are two different types. Type 1 is an insulin dependent person. This individual’s pancreas makes too little or no insulin at all. This is the person who must take insulin shots the rest of their life.
Some call Type 2 diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes. However, this is not exactly the case. People with Type 2 do indeed make insulin but their bodies are resistant to it. Some control the disease by diet and exercise, others use pills and the third type takes insulin to control the high blood sugar. The majority of cases of Type 2 are linked to obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise and activity.
Why do both types appear to affect sexual function? And if it does, can the problems be reversed?
Experts estimate that 75 percent of men and 35 percent of women with diabetes experience some sexual problems due to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) to the nerves that stimulate normal sexual response.
Many people assume that when someone has a chronic illness, they have so many things going on managing the illness that sex automatically gets relegated to the back burner. However, research shows that sexuality and sexual expression rises to the top of the list when it comes to quality of life issues, no matter what other problems a person may be facing. People with Type 2 diabetes are no different.
Studies have shown that men with diabetes, especially those who have Type 2 or are overweight, or both, have about twice the risk of low testosterone as their peers without the disease, which can affect a man's passion for sex.
Here's the difference between desire and arousal: First, sexual desire must occur; the body then responds, signaling arousal. That is, if everything's working properly. Both men and women with diabetes may feel desire but struggle with arousal problems, though the mechanisms behind this sexual dysfunction are better studied and understood in men. Poor diabetes control over time can damage the blood vessels and nerves—as it does in heart disease and neuropathy (nerve damage), other complications of the disease—that make arousal possible.
Diabetic neuropathy can also be a problem as it can result in numbness, pain, or lack of feeling in the genitals. This can inhibit orgasm, make sex painful or unenjoyable as response to sexual stimulation can be lacking or absent.
The most widely reported problem men face is erectile dysfunction. In fact, in some cases diabetes is diagnosed when the man seeks treatment for erection dysfunction—erectile dysfunction is a presenting symptom of diabetes, particularly for those under 45 years of age.
Failure to achieve or maintain an erection until ejaculation can be caused from nerve, muscle, or vascular damage. It is estimated that between 20 and 75% of men will have a problem with erectile dysfunction. Almost 1 in 3 men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Retrograde ejaculation is also a possible sexual problem men may experience as a complication of Type 2 diabetes. Retrograde ejaculation, which is when all or part of the semen is ejaculated back into the bladder instead of out of the penis, is caused when there is a problem with internal sphincter muscles. Sphincter muscles are responsible for opening and closing passages in the body. Abnormally high glucose levels can result in nerve damage to the sphincter muscles and the result is retrograde ejaculation.
For women, the most common sexual problem that comes with Type 2 diabetes is vaginal dryness. This can be caused by hormonal changes or from blood flow problems to the genitals.
Women who have diabetes have increased rates of vaginal infections and inflammation, both of which can make sex painful. Another issue is that nerve damage to the bladder can cause incontinence making sex embarrassing. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have frequent urinary tract infections, which can also make sex painful and uncomfortable.
While all this is true, diabetes does not mean the end of someone’s sex life. Men with diabetes can speak with their doctors regarding the new medications that deal with ED. Those who are Type 2 may be able to correct all issues by following a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep blood sugar within a normal range. Not only this, but by keeping blood sugar in the normal range, the chance of neuropathy is that much less.
For all women diabetics the dryness can be relieved with the proper water-based lube. Try different ones – they come in scented and unscented versions as well as super-lubes for those who suffer from extreme dryness.
Sometimes using a vibrator could help with neuropathy and increase stimulation? This is true for both men and women, although it can take several uses before a change is noticed. Consider getting a small vibrator and applying it to areas where you experience neuropathy for a few minutes each day.
