Is Diabetes Invading Your Sexual Health?

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.

Men are most commonly plagued by erectile dysfunction, which is the term used to describe the condition in which the victim is unable to attain or hold an erection which is firm enough to allow sexual intercourse. This disorder affects almost 85% of all diabetic men across the world, and is further complicated by the unforeseen side-effects of certain forms of diabetes medication, or external factors like smoking, uninhibited consumption of alcohol and even kidney disorders. Treatment of this disorder is with the use of oral medication, vacuum pumps and even surgical remedies depending on how severe the condition is.

Besides erectile dysfunction, diabetic men also suffer from a condition called retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when their semen is diverted to the bladder instead of the penis at the time of ejaculation. This semen dissipates into the urine and is excreted from the body, which poses several fertility-related issues over the course of time. The initial signs of this disorder are if your urine appears cloudier than usual or if the amount of semen you discharge at the time of ejaculation is lesser than before. It is here that you need to consult with your physician, and even get a urine sample tested, to check for retrograde ejaculation, after which your physician will prescribe medication to strengthen the muscles 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 effective way to deal with your diabetes-related sexual dysfunctions is to keep your physician informed of any untoward complications that arise during the course of your diabetes treatment. This will allow him to make an accurate diagnosis of your condition, based on your medical history and the results of any physical examinations he may conduct. For immediate relief, your physician may also prescribe vaginal lubricating creams and recommend Kegel exercises to help you gain better control over the muscles which hold urine in your bladder, thus improving the circulation of blood in this part of your body.

The dysfunctions that diabetes brings about are abundant, in both their number and the extent to which they hamper the functioning of your body. However, a large majority of these complications can be effortlessly avoided by keeping a close watch over your diabetes management to ensure that the nerve damage and loss of circulation do not attain devastating proportions. In the event that you are diagnosed with diabetes-related sexual dysfunctions, remember that it is as important to be scrupulous about your diabetes control, as it is to be regular with your treatment, as the most effective of therapies can prove futile if not accompanied by a stringent diabetes management program. So, if you are still letting diabetes get the better of you it's time to turn the tables right away. Soon you'll realize just how simple and effortless averting such disorders can be, if precautions are taken at the right time!

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

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 www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

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