How Does Diabetes Affect Erection Quality?

Diabetes, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, can contribute to changes in erections because it impacts blood flow, which is critical to healthy erectile function. Diabetes can lead to the thickening of your arteries. A thick artery leaves less space for blood to flow through. Since not enough blood is getting to the penis to create an erection, this may cause erectile problems. In fact, more than half of the men with diabetes will, over time, experience decreased erectile function.

When the glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are not properly controlled, the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) is greater than if they are kept under control. ED is also known to occur at an earlier age in diabetic men than in nondiabetic men.

It’s natural and normal to want a healthy sex life, so if you have diabetes and think you might have issues with erection quality, talk to your doctor about LEVITRA, a medicine designed to treat ED.

LEVITRA works for many men with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, across all levels of ED severity.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Erection Quality?

Because it is a condition that interferes with blood flow, high blood pressure, also called hypertension, is frequently associated with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Difficulty getting and keeping an erection that lasts long enough to have successful sex is known as ED. Some men have trouble getting an erection in the first place, while others have difficulty keeping one. And these problems may occur frequently or just occasionally.

High blood pressure is high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are the “pipes” that carry blood from the pumping heart to all of the tissues and organs of the body. When blood pressure is high
(140/90 mm Hg or over) for a long time, these “pipes” get stiff or narrow, which keeps the blood from flowing easily throughout the body. Blood flow is critical to healthy erectile function.

But there is a way to improve erectile function, even if you have high blood pressure. Ask your doctor about LEVITRA, a medication designed to treat ED by increasing the blood flow that affects getting and keeping an erection that lasts long enough to have successful sex.

How Does High Cholesterol Affect Erection Quality?

High cholesterol is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). The risk of ED is nearly two times greater in men with total cholesterol levels above 240 than in men with total cholesterol levels below 180.
Difficulty getting and keeping an erection that lasts long enough to have successful sex is known as ED. Some men have trouble getting an erection in the first place, while others have difficulty keeping one. And these problems may occur frequently or just occasionally.
If there is too much cholesterol in your body, it sticks to the walls of the arteries. When cholesterol builds up, it creates a smaller opening for blood to pass through. This leads to less blood flow to the penis, which can create erectile problems.

It’s natural and normal to want a healthy sex life, so if you think your high cholesterol may be affecting the quality of your erections, talk to your doctor about LEVITRA, a medication designed to help treat mild to severe ED.

Further help and advice

Don’t forget, 40% of men over 40 have experienced some form of erection problems – so you’re not alone. Below you will find details of a variety of websites and support groups that provide a range of information and services related to sexual problems and impotence.

For free information and advice for
partners of men with erectile dysfunction
visit www.lovelifematters.co.uk

British Heart Foundation
BHF is fighting heart disease by funding research and education.
Website: http://www.bhf.org.uk

Diabetes UK
A leading charity that funds research, campaigns and helps people to live with diabetes.
Website: http://www.diabetes.org.uk Malehealth
Fast, free information from the Men’s Health forum.
Website: http://www.malehealth.co.uk

Netdoctor
Medical information and health website. Health advice on diseases, conditions, examinations and treatments.
Website: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk

RELATE
The UK’s largest and most experienced relationship counselling organisation.
Website: http://www.relate.org.uk/

Sexual Dysfunction Association
Helps ED sufferers and raises awareness of the condition.
Website: http://sda.uk.net/

ED treatment options

There are a number of different erectile dysfunction treatments available and you should talk to your doctor/nurse about one that’s right for you – even if you have tried one in the past. Lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise, losing weight and stopping smoking are all beneficial in helping treat your condition.

The treatment table below will show you some of the options available. You can discuss these options and your preferences with your doctor.

The variios treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Let’s TREAT ED
Treatment type	Product	How long does it take to work	Duration of effect	Maximum recommended dosing	Most Common side effects (over 10%)	Food interactions
Oral tablets In order for these medications to work, sexual stimulation is required. Alcohol may effect erections. Avoid excessive alcohol with oral treatments.	Product 1	At least 30 minutes	Up to 36 hours after dosing	Once per day as needed	Headache, indigestion	Can be taken with or without food
	Product 2	Approximately 25 minutes to 1 hour	For 4-5 hours after dosing	Once per day as needed	Headache, facial flushing	Can be taken with or without food. A high fat meal may delay onset
	Product 3	Approximately 1 hour	For 4-5 hours after dosing	Once per day as needed	Headache, facial flushing	Food may delay onset
Injections or insertion These are injected into the penis or inserted using a special applicator – usually just before sexual intercourse to produce an erection. You should discuss all possible side effects with your doctor/nurse.	Product 1	Not specified	Not exceeding 1 hour (dose dependent)	No more than once daily or 3 times per week	Penile pain	No interaction with food
	Product 2	5-10 minutes after administration	30 minutes to 1 hour	No more than twice daily in 24 hours (or 7 times in 7 days)	Urethal burning, penile pain	No interaction with food
	Product 3	About 5-15 minutes after the injection	Dose can be adjusted to give erection lasting 1 hour	No more than once per day, 2 or 3 times per week (with 24 hours between injections)	Burning sensation, pain/tension in penis or site of injection	No interaction with food
Vacuum pumps These work by drawing blood into the penis making it erect. A constriction ring is then placed around the base of the penis to trap the blood and maintain the erection.	There are 10 different vacuum pumps available	Immediate	Not exceeding 30 minutes (remove ring)	Use as often as required- but at least 1 hour interval between each treatment	Discomfort, bruising of penis	No interaction with food
Counselling All men with sexual dysfunction would benefit from counselling and it should be an integral part of treatment. Your doctor may be able to act as your counsellor. If your doctor feels you will benefit from specialist counselling, your doctor will be able to recommend one known to them.
Hormone treatment It is rare, but some men with sexual dysfunction receive hormones for their erection problem. This does depend on the cause of the problem as well as other factors.
Surgery Two types of surgery are available.They are usually only necessary if counselling or medical treatments haven’t worked or are not suitable. The most common surgical procedure is prosthetic implants, which involves the insertion of artificial rods into the penis. The second surgical technique involves repairing the blood vessels of the penis in men who have had an injury that has caused poor blood flow. Your doctor will be the best person to advise you as to whether this is a suitable option for you.
You may or may not be eligible to receive treatment on the NHS. Your doctor will advise you.In the majority of cases, erectile dysfunction can be treated, so you should do something about it and get it checked out as soon as possible.Do you realise that there are a number of different erectile dysfunction treatments available from your doctor? Remember different erectile dysfunction treatments work in different ways so it’s worth asking your doctor about this. Understanding the main differences between them could help you find a suitable treatment.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

The cause of ED is often an underlying illness
All men should take any erection problem seriously. It is now widely accepted that, in most cases, the cause of impotence is a physical one – a common symptom of other illnesses, which include diabetes, high blood pressure or nerve damage. So, for this reason it is particularly important to get ED checked out.

Remember, around 1 in 10 men in the UK have an erection problem so you are not alone and getting it checked out by a doctor is the first, most important step in dealing with this. Also, try to follow the advice given here in the 4t ACTION PLAN.

Some of the Major Causes of ED

Vasculare.g. diabetes, heart disease
Post-operative e.g. prostate surgery
Medicatione.g. a side effect of another drug
Psychologicale.g. stress or emotional problems
Other illnessese.g. nerve problems, trauma

In many cases there will usually be a combination of both physical and psychological factors. ED is unlikely to go away without treatment, so you really should get it checked out today

Given that Erectile Dysfunction is a common symptom of other illnesses, it is important to study the 4t ACTION PLAN and then talk to your doctor / nurse – make an appointment today

Erectile Dysfunction, sex and diabetes
Diabetes can damage the nerves, the erectile tissue and small blood vessels in the penis, as well as other tissues in the body. Read more about diabetes and erectile dysfunction.

What Are the Causes of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

Getting and keeping an erection that lasts long enough to have successful sex is dependent on the blood flowing smoothly and easily through the penis. Any health condition that interferes with the blood flow to the penis may lead to ED. Men with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes are at greater risk for ED than men who do not have these conditions.Many other medical, physical, and lifestyle issues can also affect a man’s ability to get or keep an erection, including:

Smoking Lack of exercise Obesity Heavy drinking Side effects from medication

Lack of sleep Stress Depression Spinal cord injury Prostate surgery

There’s a medicine that can help treat mild to severe ED. Ask your doctor if it is right for you.

What tests could my doctor do?

Test: Blood pressure level
High blood pressure is linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes – both known
causes of ED.

Test: Blood sugar level – urine sugar level
Can help to determine if you have diabetes. An initial check can be done there and then, but you may need to come back for a further test such as a glucose tolerance test.

Test: Cholesterol level
Together with the tests above, knowing the level of cholesterol and other lipids in your blood can help determine your cardiovascular health status.

Test: Testosterone level
If your level of the hormone testosterone is low then chances are that your libido or sex drive is low too. So your doctor could take a small blood sample to test for this treatable condition.

Test: Your current medications
The side effects of some medications may be responsible for causing ED. So your doctor will also review any current medication.

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction

The hallmark of diabetes is a raised level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. There are a number of reasons why men with diabetes are particularly prone to erectile dysfunction. Diabetes can damage the nerves, the erectile tissue and small blood vessels in the penis, as well as other tissues in the body. This can cause erectile dysfunction – the medical term for impotence and you should talk to your doctor about this.

Damage to the nerves, known as neuropathy, may mean that there is less sensation in the penis and less signalling to it from the brain, making it more difficult to get and maintain an erection. Damage to the erectile tissue will prevent the muscle fibres within it from adequately relaxing, so that the penis cannot fill with blood during erection. Damage to the blood vessels will also prevent the erectile tissues from filling with blood. This is why diabetes and erectile dysfunction are closely linked.

Smoking and poor control of blood sugar makes these diabetic complications more likely, so it is important that your antidiabetic treatment is optimised to gain good control of your blood sugar. Stopping smoking is always a good idea.

In addition, men with diabetes are more prone to high blood pressure, and many of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure can be responsible for causing ED.

Type 2 diabetes is the commonest form and is the type generally found in people over 40. In this condition people are still able to produce insulin – the essential hormone that controls our blood glucose level – but they do so inefficiently. Treatment is usually with diet restriction and oral tablets to lower the blood sugar, although occasionally insulin may also be used.

Type 1 diabetes is more common in younger people and is due to a lack of insulin production. Type 1 diabetes always needs to be treated with insulin injections.

The complications of long-standing diabetes, such as erectile dysfunction, are common to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Many people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight and many of them have only mild symptoms (such as thirst and the desire to pass urine more often) for years before the diabetes is even noticed. Unfortunately, having mild symptoms does not mean that the diabetes isn’t causing some nerve and artery damage, and a high proportion of people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes already show problems such as ED by the time they are recognised to have diabetes.

Talking to your partner about erectile dysfunction (ED)

Some men find it difficult to talk about their ED with their partner. 40over40.com and the 4tACTION PLAN provide you with some of the information and advice that will help you. Also, your partner could visit LoveLifeMatters sponsored by Lilly – the free service for partners of men with erectile dysfunction. Both services provide further information including the causes, the treatments and how to talk to your doctor.

Although you may find it difficult to talk about your erectile dysfunction, you really do need to speak to a doctor, since ED could be a sign of a serious underlying condition. Some couples are happy to deal with ED together – after all most couples talk about important decisions together so why should talking about an erection problem be any different? However, if you are finding it difficult, here are a few ways you might start the conversation:

• If you feel embarrassed or awkward about telling them, start by sharing your emotions
• Remind your partner that you love them
• Tell them that you miss making love to them and say why you haven’t been trying recently
• Discuss how common ED is – ‘Did you know that 40% of men over 40 have experienced erection difficulties?” and go on to say that you think you may be one of them
• Tell them that you’ve known for some time that you have a problem and at last you want to talk about it

Support for your partner
LoveLifeMatters.com is a free and confidential service, primarily designed for female partners of men with an erection problem. You should find this very reassuring, because it provides your partner with support and advice. So ask them to look at this site to help you both address
your concerns.

Further specialist help
If you want to seek additional specialist help, such as a relationship therapist or counsellor, your doctor will know the best people to see locally. Or contact one of the organisations listed in the TODAY section. And for more information and help with erectile dysfunction, continue to read all sections of the 4t ACTIONPLAN.

Talking to your doctor about erectile dysfunction (ED)

A proper medical assessment of erectile dysfunction (ED) is very important. Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be caused by other medical conditions or medication side-effects. Your doctor will be best placed to identify this and act upon it.

Erectile dysfunction is now a widely recognised medical condition and your doctor will be happy to discuss this with you. 40% of men over 40 have experienced an erection problem, so you are not alone and your doctor will have discussed this many times before.

You’ve already begun to deal with your erection problem by reading the ACTION PLAN – so don’t stop now.

Now there are options for men seeking to improve the quality of their erections, even for men who have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It all starts with a visit to your doctor.

Remember:

• You’re not the first guy to discuss ED with your doctor. He or she has heard it all before
• You may have a lot to gain. Since medical conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes may lead to ED, why wouldn’t you talk about it?
• Your sexual health is part of your overall health

You can tell the doctor’s staff that you need a “check-up” when you call for your appointment. But tell your doctor that you want to discuss changes in your erectile function at the start of your visit. In other words, don’t wait until the doctor is halfway out the door.

Ask your doctor if LEVITRA is right for you. Once you bring up the topic, your doctor may ask you some questions and then select the best treatment option for you.

You can also fill out and print some handy tools to help you bring up the subject of ED with your doctor. You can fill out and print one or all of these tools to take to your doctor visit. Tools include:

• Doctor Discussion Guide – has tips on how to start the discussion about ED with your doctor
• Sexual Health Quiz – is a standard, five-question tool used by doctors to help diagnose ED
• Sexual Health Checklist - asks about your overall and sexual health