Sex & Diabetes

Did you know that roughly 33% of all men with type 2 diabetes suffer from impotence? In fact, this is exactly what leads to many of these men to be diagnosed with the condition. Diabetes affects the nervous system, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy, which causes nerve damage and numbness throughout the body. To make matters worse, many of the medications prescribed by doctors to treat diabetes actually can be a root cause of sexual impotence. Men are not the only ones who’s sex lives can be affected by diabetes, women too can develop problems related to the condition. The most common issue with women who have diabetes, is vaginitis, or swelling of the vaginal area, often a result of a yeast infection. The good news is, in most cases these issues can be corrected, or prevented, simply by changing your diet.

A Better Diet = Better A Better Sex Life

You might want to think of sex as a sport, and think of yourself as an athlete. Now we all know that professional athletes don’t generally eat fast food, greasy fried food and snack foods full of sugar. If they did, they simply wouldn’t be able to perform. Well the same goes for you, if you want to perform under the sheets, you need to adjust your diet accordingly. This is true for everyone, not only diabetics. Those who suffer from diabetes will have to be even more vigilant than others when it comes to maintaining a strict diet, eliminating certain foods that can negatively impact blood sugar levels.

There are also several foods and spices that have been proven to be very effective in managing blood sugar levels, and controlling diabetes. These foods are also known as “diabetic superfoods”. To list a few: cinnamon, flax seed oil, yogurt, beans, and certain fruits and vegetables are all proven to have properties beneficial to diabetics. If you haven’t already done so, you should take the time to research these superfoods, and get a better idea of what you should be eating. Changing your diet, and improving your lifestyle by being more active, can help you not only control diabetes, but reverse the condition all together.

Approximately 70% of those suffering from diabetes will experience some form of nerve pain due to high glucose levels effect on your nervous system.

Neuralgia treatment is varied and highly dependent on the type and location of the neuralgia that is being experienced yet once numbness or tingling in your feet or hands is experienced you should make an appointment with your physician immediately.

Symptoms of neuralgia include pain, weakness and impaired function of the affected part of the body; sensitivity or numbness in the skin; pain the follows the path of a nerve; movement, touch or pressure causes pain.

Neuralgia is commonly found among the elderly but in reality can occur in anyone at any age.
If you are diabetic and experience any of these symptoms your physician’s first test will be to determine if your glucose levels are elevated. If the test comes back positive the primary goal will be to get your levels back under control.

Normally the symptoms will go away after the cause has been identified and reversed however it may take a few weeks depending on how long you experienced the symptoms prior to diagnosis.

To deal with the associated pain your physician will also probably prescribe pain medications which may include anti-depressant, anti-seizure, and even narcotic medication. Please be aware that these may be addictive, especially the narcotic medications, and will require frequent monitoring by your physician.

Diabetic neuropathy is a painful condition often affecting 70% of all diabetics. With diabetic neuropathy the nerves become damaged due to prolonged exposure to high blood glucose levels. Symptoms often include tingling, numbness and shooting pains along the nerves and very often affect the extremities such as the hands or feet.

The important fact about neuropathy is that it can only be cured, if its prime cause is cured. For example, if your neuropathy is caused by high blood glucose levels once you lower the glucose levels the symptoms will typically go away. Nerve damage treatment therefore will include recognizing the cause of the neuropathy and eliminating it.

Once the cause of the neuropathy has been identified and properly dealt with your physician may want to talk with you about pain management. Options may include anti-seizure medications, anti-depressant medications, over the counter pain relievers, narcotic pain relievers, and topical ointments such as Capsaicin. 

If narcotic prescription medications are recommended your physician will want to monitor you closely as these types of medications can be highly addictive. A further option may include monthly injections of vitamin B12 since neuropathy has been found to become worse in people who are deficient in the vitamin B12 which supports the sheathing that protects our nerves. Studies have also found that B12 promotes the regeneration and growth of new nerve cells.

Nerve damage associated with diabetes can become very painful. Talk with your physician and determine if you are at risk and what your options are.