Diabetes

Diabetes and impotence

09/19/2000 09:25AM

Question:

Is there a relationship between male diabetes & impotence?

Answer:

Male impotence occurs more commonly in men with diabetes than others but it is still probably a minority of men with diabetes who experience it. In order to have normal erectile function, it is necessary to have adequate male hormone (testosterone)production, and adequate function of both nerves controlling the penis and blood vessels supplying the penis. Problems with those nerves and blood vessels both occur more commonly in men with long-standing diabetes. It is of interest that one of the other common health problems which also can cause problems with impotence is excessive alcohol use. I`m not aware of any studies that prove the combination of poorly controlled diabetes and excessive alcohol use over many years makes impotence more likely but it would make sense. Therefore, I point out to men with diabetes that that is yet another reason to be very moderate with alcohol use.
As far as we know, the best way to prevent impotence in diabetes is controlling the blood sugar as well as possible. In some men, there may be a low testosterone level for any of several reasons and they may benefit from treatment with testosterone. Of course many men may benefit from the use of new drugs for impotence like sildenafil (brand name Viagra) and I believe it is under study whether this and related drugs have potential benefit in women as well.

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Response by:

Robert M. Cohen, MD
Associate Professor
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Department of Internal Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati