Recent studies are showing that over half of men with diabetes have at least one episode during their lives when they fail to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The medical community has worked to remedy this situation with three phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, also called PDE-5 inhibitors. The inhibitors go by the technical names sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis) and are helping many diabetic men increase satisfaction in their sex lives. If a man is diabetic they can help reduce the risk of developing erectile dysfunction by keeping their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

The phoshodiesterase type 5 inhibitors may introduce side effects including headaches, but any adverse reactions are not sufficiently severe enough to affect the men's perceived quality of life. If taken as prescribed the PDE-5 inhibitors will provide a useful option for men who suffer from both diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Diabetes can cause a variety of other chronic complications, including heart disease and high blood pressure, but the PDE-5 inhibitors were shown to not cause as many adverse reactions in this group. Diabetic men who took PDE-5 inhibitors showed improvements on all measures of erectile function with high averages of successful intercourse attempts.

Erectile dysfunction is defined as the repeated inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Several studies have shown that men with diabetes are three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who do not have the disease. PDE-5 inhibitors work by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide when taken an hour before sexual activity. Nitric oxide is a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allows for increased blood flow. Diabetic men are far more likely to have to consider treatment for erectile dysfunction as they are more prone to this complication. Treating diabetic men for erectile dysfunction can be a special challenge for physicians and other health care professionals.

As with any drug therapy, diabetic men should use caution when taking PDE-5 inhibitors and use only as directed by their physicians. The drugs should be taken only on an 'as needed' basis and patients should consult their physicians for possible drug interactions. There is also no concrete evidence as to whether these medications are safe for long term usage by diabetic men. Other facts to consider regarding diabetes and erectile dysfunction include the following. Impotence can be an early indicator of diabetes, plus men with diabetes tend to develop impotence 10-15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Statistics also show that more than 50% of men develop erectile dysfunction within 10 years of being diagnosed with diabetes. A diabetic man is two to fives times more likely to develop erectile dysfunction than a man who is not a diabetic. If diabetes is prevalent in your family it is wise to be tested as it is very genetic. Diabetes occurs when the body stops making insulin or does not make enough of it. Diabetes is a serious disease which can be brought on at any age, however most people develop it during middle age or beyond.

Popularity: 14%