Helpful Tips for People with Diabetes - Improve Sexual
Function and Libido
By solarbay,
pilotbay, angelbay
1. Balance Blood Sugar
The first step in addressing sexual problems (and most
other diabetes complications) is to make sure your glucose levels are
well-controlled. High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage (neuropathy)
and impair circulation, which can lead to decreased erections in men, lack of
lubrication in women and difficulties in achieving orgasm for both. Controlling
blood sugar also keeps chronic vaginal infections—a common complaint in women
with diabetes—at bay.
"Plus, when your blood sugar level is too high, you
often feel lousy, which hardly puts you in the mood for sex," says Joel
Zonszein, M.D., director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical
Center in the Bronx, NY. Always check your blood sugar prior to making love,
just as you would before any other form of exercise. This helps you avoid
symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as feeling shaky or confused.
2. End Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
About half of men who have had diabetes for more than 10
years experience erectile dysfunction (ED), also called impotence. The reason:
Over time, diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves, including those in the
penis. This makes it more difficult to achieve or maintain an erection.
Other factors that can contribute to ED include smoking,
excess weight and inactivity. ED can also be a side effect of some medications,
such as those used to treat hypertension or depression. The good news? Drugs
for treating ED, including sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), are
effective in about half of men with diabetes, says Roszler.
Talk to your doctor before filling a prescription,
however: ED drugs can cause dangerous interactions with certain heart disease
therapies. If medications aren't appropriate for you, alternatives include
vacuum pumps, which draw blood into the penis, and constriction bands, which
help keep the penis erect. Devices that allow you to achieve an erection can
also be surgically implanted under general anesthesia.
In addition, testosterone supplementation is available
for men whose ED is caused by low levels of the hormone. Your doctor can help
you decide what's most likely to work for you.
3. Address Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness, which is often caused by nerve damage,
is the most common sexual side effect for women with diabetes, along with
issues such as depression and yeast infections.
Over-the-counter vaginal lubricants provide an easy,
effective solution. If you find that you need additional help—common for
postmenopausal women—ask your doctor whether you are a candidate for the
vaginal method of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), which delivers the
hormone via a ring placed in the vagina. This type of ERT carries fewer
potential risks than oral drugs and patches, which have been linked to an
increased risk of breast cancer and stroke.
4. Treat Depression
To put it simply: "If your head is not ready, then
your tail is not ready," says Lois Jovanovic, M.D., C.E.O. and chief
scientific officer of the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara,
CA. One major stumbling block for getting in the mood is depression. And women
with diabetes are 30 percent more likely to have depression than people without
the condition, according to recent research published in the Archives of
Internal Medicine. Plus, taking insulin doubles your risk of developing
depression.
Also, feeling self-conscious about wearing an insulin
pump, being overweight or having bruises at injection sites can contribute to
low self-esteem—a major component of depression. Antidepressants and
psychotherapy, separately or in combination, can be very successful at
relieving depression, studies show—though some antidepressants have sexual side
effects of their own. Ask your doctor about finding one that doesn't dampen
your desire.
5. Talk to Your Doctor
One of the biggest obstacles to resolving sexual problems
is getting past embarrassment and bringing the topic up to your doctor. It
turns out only 19 percent of women and 47 percent of men discuss sexual issues
with their physicians, according to a study published in Diabetes Care. To get
the conversational ball rolling, Roszler suggests writing down pointed
questions, such as "Which of my medications might be affecting my
erections?" before your office visit. And ask questions at the beginning
of your appointment so you don't chicken out.
6. Communicate with Your Partner
Sorting out relationship challenges is critical for a
satisfying sex life, especially when you are dealing with a chronic illness
like diabetes. The ability to be spontaneous takes a hit when one person has to
monitor his or her blood sugar, medications and food intake continuously.
Couples also need to remember that women often need more
time than men to become aroused. Roszler's advice is to be patient and
communicative with each other. "Sure, you may have to schedule sex, but so
do a lot of busy people without diabetes," she says. If kick-starting a
sex talk with your partner feels too difficult, ask your health care provider
for a referral to a couples counselor who can help you communicate more
effectively. Above all, Roszler urges you to reach out. "You're not alone,
and there is help, but you can only get it if you ask for it."
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