Blood vessel-related conditions have a connection to erectile dysfunction (ED). Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and lipid increases are among the most prevalent ailments (cholesterol).
Heart disease is usually present in people with diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases frequently hamper the normal functioning of the erectile muscle and penile arteries.
The connection between diabetes and erectile dysfunction will be the main topic of this blog post.
Generally, erectile dysfunction can be treated with proper medication; consult a qualified Erectile Dysfunction Urologist for recommendations.
There are several risk factors to consider
Aside from peripheral blood flow, diabetes also affects peripheral nerve function. ED and diabetes were first linked in 1978. Males with diabetes have four primary risk factors for ED.
- Diabetes can harm the nerves in every part of your body, including those in your penis. Penile nerve damage can impair your body’s capacity to communicate with your penis and can result in ED.
- Atherosclerosis is a disorder where the blood arteries narrow or harden. Diabetes can exacerbate this problem. ED can develop when these blood vessels’ lumen narrows or their walls harden, which prevents blood flow into and out of the penis. As a result, Peyronie’s Disease develops, which can foreshorten and distort the erection. It is caused by changes to the erectile muscles and tendons. As a result, venus leaks, also known as veno-occlusive dysfunction, occur.
- Diabetes in men requires careful blood sugar management. Nitric oxide (NO) production declines, and vascular tissues don’t respond to NO when blood sugar levels are out of control. Penile veins close off and stop the blood from leaving the penis when enough blood flows into it. An erection is the product of this procedure. Unless the penile muscle is producing NO or is responding to NO, the pressure of blood flowing into the penis will not stretch the muscle and trap the blood. The penis won’t harden completely, or you’ll get an erection, but it won’t last.
- Low testosterone levels are necessary for adequate erectile function in about 12% of all diabetic males.
Having diabetes can lead to erectile dysfunction
ED is three times as common in men with diabetes than in men without diabetes. The use of oral ED treatments on these guys is also much less likely to be beneficial than on other men. Males with diabetes typically develop ED 10–15 years earlier than men without diabetes.
The likelihood of developing ED rises with both the duration and severity of your diabetes. Although ED affects 20 to 75% of men with diabetes, most individuals may successfully control it.
