Diabetes and sexuality

The data emerges from the study “Diabetes and quality of life: initial approach to depression, physical activity and sexual dysfunction”, conducted by Uruguayan, Argentine and Chilean specialists and published in 2014 in the American Journal of Therapeutics.

In the publication, doctors from the three countries located sexual dysfunction among the main problems that alter the quality of life of diabetic people.In men, the most common is that the link between both conditions is manifested in erection.In women, you can alter lubrication and sexual desire.

“Sexual dysfunction is a common condition in patients with diabetes;Its causes are multifactorial but the risk increases along with the disease, ”said the specialists in the article.

According to clinicians, the incidence of erectile dysfunction increases with age but in people who have diabetes it appears between 5 and 10 years before in the healthy male population.In addition, patients are more exposed to suffering a decrease in testosterone levels.

"It is important to recognize the possibility that there are disruptions in sexual function because improving sexual life can be a strong motivation for diabetic patients for the change in habits and quality of life," the document said.

In Uruguay there are more than 260,000 people who have diabetes, chronic disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of blood sugar.Among the complications it causes, the most widespread are the eye problems (it can lead to blindness), ulcers and leg infections that, (not receiving treatment can lead to amputation), the increase in the probability of suffering attackscardiac and alterations in the kidneys.

However, sexual dysfunction is one of the possible complications on the horizon of a diabetic patient, especially when it does not follow the recommended care or controls."It relates more to those who do not have a good control of the disease," said Bruno Carrattini, a degree in Nutrition and Diabetes educator at the Uruguay Diabetics Association

"Many studies have been presented that demonstrate a relationship between a diabetes of many years and sexual dysfunction," said the ADU educator.

With respect to what extent the Uruguayans are aware of this risk, he said that it depends on the educational level they have in relation to their illness.“There are many who have diabetes and do not have much information;Maybe because they didn't hear him or because they never worried, ”he said.

The reasons.

If diabetes is a disease linked to metabolism, food and sedentary lifestyle, why does sexual organs alter?

The country consulted Teresita Blanco, a Uruguayan sexologist who founded in 2002 the Sexology Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas, presided over the Uruguayan Society of the same discipline and today coordinates the courses of the Latin American Federation of Sexology and Sexual Education Societies.

"There are two complications of diabetes that affect sexual life: vasculopathy (that is, alterations at the level of blood vessels) and neuropathy (that is, alterations at the nerve level)," said the specialist."As the erection of the male and the lubrication of women are neurovascular phenomena, diabetes affects both."

Blanco said that although erectile dysfunction is the most frequent manifestation, there are others that are less known and equally problems: retrograde ejaculation and alvaculation.The first is when the semen does not cross the urinary fourth but it goes back.The second is when there is no ejaculation.

To understand the link between diabetes and erection, it is enough to think that the disease alters the blood vessels and the wall of the arteries.If cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes are frequent, how much more the sexual will be, if the arteries of the penis are six times finer than arteries such as the aorta.

To the extent that the diameter is less affected before.Therefore, consulting and treating erectile dysfunction can avoid future problems in the heart and brain."It precedes up to three years other vascular complications," said Blanco."When I give a class I do not send it to the sexologist, send it to the cardiologist."

International Studies have indicated that at 10 years of having diabetes, 50% of men have variable degree erectile dysfunction."Many do not consult" but they suffer, said Blanco.There are few data from how many diabetic women their sex life see but can lose desire and lubrication.

keys
what

A work carried out by specialists from Uruguay, Argentina and Chile highlighted sexual dysfunction (problems in sexual activity) as one of the main problems that affect the quality of life of diabetic people.The Uruguay Diabetics Association coincided with the link.

how

The work said that although the situation varies among countries, it is estimated that from 30 to 75% of diabetics have sexual dysfunction problems.In man, the most common is that they have trouble achieving erection due, in part, to the fact that the blood vessels that must be filled with blood have been altered.

treat

Diabetes can be counteracted with changes in lifestyle, especially gaining weight with exercise and eating healthier foods.The treatment of both type 1 diabetes (the most serious) and diabetes 2 consists of medications, diet and exercise to control the blood sugar level.

"The organism is designed for pleasure"

Sexual function is not only erection, penetration and orgasm but an erotic affective bond.Our body is designed for pleasure, even when there are pathologies that decrease the answer. ”

There are 2 complications of diabetes that affect sex life: the alteration of blood vessels and that of nerves.As the erection of the male and the lubrication of women are neurovascular phenomena, it affects both. ”

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