Is Diabetes Invading Your Sexual Health?
Julia Hanf
A disease which hinders the balance between the glucose you consume and its utilization as energy by your body, diabetes is characterized by dangerously high levels of glucose in your bloodstream. This soaring level of blood sugar brings about a host of complications which range from diseases which target your heart and kidneys to even nerve damage, which may mar your physical wellbeing for life. Apart from these often discussed and meticulously examined conditions, there is also another relatively subdued aspect of diabetes, namely sexual dysfunction, which is often, relegated a secondary status, simply because the victim isn't very comfortable about discussing this matter with his physician. And so, even though his condition may be made a lot less severe with just a simple consultation, the diabetic continues to suffer in silence, sometimes even worsening the disorder by keeping mum about it.
One of the few complications that do not have any gender biases, sexual dysfunction affects both men and women with equal potency. This complication arises from the nerve damage the high levels of blood sugar bring about in the victim's body, which disrupts the nervous signals relayed by the brain to the various bodily parts. The poor blood circulation, which is also another common problem afflicting diabetics all over the world, further exacerbates this condition by reducing the supply of blood to the victim's genitals. And so, the victim is unable to respond effectively to the sexual stimuli relayed by his brain, which reduces his sexual desire as well as his sexual performance.
Of the various sexual problems that afflict men, the most common is erectile dysfunction, where the victim cannot attain or hold an erection firm enough to pursue intercourse. The occurrence of this problem amongst diabetics is as high as 85 percent, given the neural and circulation deficiencies they are already subject to. Sometimes, the medication prescribed as a part of the diabetes management program is a major contributor towards erectile dysfunction in susceptible individuals, which is often further complicated by external factors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as health disorders like renal disease. Treatment of this condition involves the use of oral pills, vacuum pumps and even surgery depending upon the severity and the victim's response to therapy.
Yet another condition which plagues diabetic men is retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when the semen released during ejaculation is diverted to the bladder of the diabetic, instead of the penis. As a result, the semen mixes with the urine in the bladder and is then excreted from the body, bringing about severe fertility problems as the condition progresses to its more mature phase. Initial signs which indicate the probability of retrograde ejaculation are cloudy urine and a lesser amount of semen discharged during ejaculation. Your physician will ask you to test a urine sample, after which medication is prescribed to improve the muscle tone of your bladder neck.
Diabetes is just as brutal to women it afflicts, damaging the nerves which line the vagina, bringing about a loss of sensation and vaginal dryness. This dryness makes intercourse painful and unpleasant, thus depleting the sexual desire in women and impairing their response to sexual stimuli. Unsuitable medication may further disrupt the sexual performance in women as they further subdue libido and make it even more difficult for women to attain orgasms.
The most important aspect of the process of recovery is to be honest about your condition with your physician, to enable him to pronounce an accurate diagnosis. Your physician may also want to study your medical history and conduct physical examinations to isolate the very root of these dysfunctions and then prescribe vaginal lubricant creams for pain relief. Kegel exercises are also very effective in strengthening the muscles which hold urine in your bladder, thus allowing you better control over your blood circulation.
Although the diabetes-induced sexual dysfunctions are many, the primary cause of all of these is a poorly managed disease, which is the perpetrator of nerve damage or poor blood circulation. If your body does indicate any signs of diabetes-related sexual dysfunctions, it is advisable you seek treatment immediately, while also getting more serious about you're your diabetes management routine. No matter how nascent your dysfunction may be, you are still at a risk of succumbing to its more devious aspects if you continue to allow your diabetes to get the better for you. So, if you haven't begun already, master your diabetes today, to ensure a future bereft of health complications and compromises that your disease forces you to undergo!
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.
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