Here's How Diabetes Can Affect Your Sex Life
Do you know that diabetes is responsible for several health issues including sexual difficulties in both, men and women? Knowing how your blood sugar level can affect your sex life will motivate you to keep a close watch on how your diabetes is progressing.
Here are seven ways diabetes can affect sexual desires and fertility:
1. Erectile dysfunction (ED)
ED affects the ability to get and maintain an erection for a satisfactory intercourse. Men, who is diagnosed with diabetes early in life, will probably develop ED sooner than men without diabetes.
Click here to find some easy to follow home remedies to deal with ED.
2. Frequent vaginal infections
Women who have diabetes are more prone to yeast infections, which can make sexual intercourse incredibly painful.
Applying organic coconut oil or diluted tea tree oil (with jojoba carrier oil) directly to the affected area helps in healing the infection. Daily intake of plain Greek yogurt (without any added sugar) and probiotic supplements may also effectively soothe the infection.
3. Low levels of testosterone
Many men with diabetes often feel depressed, tired, and experience low libido. Most of these men have lower than normal levels of testosterone (the male sex hormone), which can affect his desire for sex.
Eating a diet rich in zinc helps in testosterone production. Some of the best sources of zinc include red meat and crabs like cashew nuts.
4. Low sexual desire
Many women with diabetes usually do not feel sexually aroused. As the high blood sugar affects vaginal lubrication and this may lead to painful intercourse. Thus, most diabetic women try to avoid the intimate moments.
Consuming omega 3 fatty acids based foods such as raw pumpkin, sunflower seeds, mackerel, tuna or salmon helps to curb vaginal dryness. Bananas may help to increase female hormone levels and improve sex drive.
5. Bladder problems
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a diabetic can face blood vessel and nerve damage due to the effects of high blood glucose level. And this can make sexual and bladder problems worse.
Managing diabetes is the key to preventing such problems.
6. Retrograde ejaculation
Although rarely, but men with diabetes can also experience retrograde ejaculation. It is a condition in which poor blood sugar control, over a long-term period, leads to neuropathy of the bladder. And due to this, semen goes backward and enters the urinary bladder instead of coming out through the urethra, while orgasm. This may lead to male infertility.
Various herbs such as Shatavari, Gokharu, Musli, Shankhpushpi, Ashwagandha have been found to effectively reverse retrograde ejaculation. Consult an Ayurveda specialist to know more about using these herbs.
7. Lowers fertility rate
Diabetes is especially a cause of concern because of the range of male as well as female fertility issues it can lead to. Women who have diabetes can find it particularly difficult to get pregnant. Type 2 diabetes can cause frequent miscarriages and birth defects too. High levels of blood sugar in men can affect their the sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg.
The good news is keeping a close watch on your glucose levels will make it possible for you to reduce these complications. Simple lifestyle changes such as eating right and exercising regularly can help you manage your diabetes better.
For any query related to diabetes-associated complications, you can consult an Endocrinologist at Ask a Doctor 24x7.
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Disclaimer: Information provided on this page is not intended to substitute for proper medical advice provided by your healthcare professional. This is only for informational purposes.
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