How Does Diabetes Affect a Man Sexually?

Having diabetes doesn’t have to mean your sex life is over. Many men lead satisfying sex lives with this common chronic condition when it’s under control.

That said, diabetes can lead to sexual issues over time, due to complications like nerve damage, low testosterone levels, and mental distress.

How does diabetes affect a man sexually? Since your nerves, hormones, and mental health all affect sexual health, diabetes may increase your risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED), ejaculation problems, low sexual desire, and other issues.

Below, we’ll answer all your questions about sexual dysfunction related to diabetes, including what you can do to maintain your sex life if you have this long-term health issue.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body turns food into energy, resulting in high blood sugar levels (too much sugar in the blood).

High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves — also called diabetic neuropathy — and lead to sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, premature ejaculation, and low sex drive.

Some people may learn they have diabetes after being diagnosed with a sexual problem. There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes. This type occurs when your body attacks your pancreas' insulin-producing cells. It’s an autoimmune disorder that can develop in childhood.

• Type 2 diabetes. This type occurs when your body can’t use insulin properly or doesn’t make as much as it used to. It’s more common in adults and can result from lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of exercise.

How does type 2 diabetes affect a man sexually? The same way type 1 diabetes does. No matter what type you have, both conditions cause symptoms that can impact sexual activity over time.

Let’s take a closer look at the sexual problems linked to diabetes.

Is Diabetes a Risk Factor for Erectile Dysfunction?

For a man to achieve an erection, there must be proper blood flow to the penis. Diabetes can cause blood vessel damage and impede blood flow.

Nerve damage from diabetes can also make it difficult to maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. This condition is one cause of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Men with diabetes are three times more likely to experience ED than those without diabetes. Additionally, those with diabetes may develop ED 10 to 15 years earlier than those without the long-term condition, and they’re less responsive to oral medical treatment for ED.

Those with prediabetes — a condition where blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes — are also more likely to experience ED. A review of nine studies found that men with prediabetes experienced erectile dysfunction more frequently than those with normal blood sugar levels.

Does Diabetes Affect Ejaculation?

Another sexual issue people with diabetes may experience is retrograde ejaculation.

It occurs when semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out of the penis due to the nerve damage caused by diabetes.

Men with diabetes are also more likely to experience premature ejaculation, a common male sexual function issue in which you may reach orgasm too early during sexual activity.

Does Diabetes Affect Sex Drive?

Diabetes has been linked to low testosterone levels in men, which can affect sex drive. A review of 13 different studies suggests that men with diabetes often have reduced testosterone levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), you’re twice as likely to have low testosterone if you have diabetes.

Testosterone is a sex hormone that supports a number of processes, including fertility, sex drive, fat distribution, and muscle mass. People with low testosterone levels may use testosterone treatment to reduce symptoms like low sexual desire, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and more.

How Does Diabetes Impact Mental Health?

People with diabetes may often feel depleted when dealing with this health condition. It’s possible that this fatigue can decrease their sex drive, affect their emotional health, and lead to issues like psychological ED or sexual performance anxiety.

When you feel anxious or stressed about your diabetes, your body gets into “fight or flight” mode. This tightens your blood vessels and increases stress hormones. As a result, your blood pressure goes up, and less blood flows to certain areas of your body, like your penis.

Despite the link between diabetes and sexual dysfunction, it is possible to lead a satisfying sex life with this chronic health problem.

In fact, complications like diabetic neuropathy, which are closely related to ED, may take years to develop. The type of nerve damage that affects the sex organs occurs in around 30 percent of people with diabetes, but there are steps you can take to prevent it, which we’ll share below.

First and foremost, you should talk to a healthcare provider right away if you notice signs of nerve damage, such as rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, urine leakage, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and nausea.

While diabetes can affect what happens in the bedroom, there are ways to prevent this health condition from ruining your sex life and quality of life.

Here are a few actions you can take:

• Keep your blood sugar levels in check. This helps to prevent nerve damage that can later cause sexual dysfunction. A healthcare provider may advise taking medication, using insulin, and checking your blood sugar levels regularly.

• Make healthy lifestyle changes. Eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, check your blood pressure, explore weight loss options, and quit smoking to help manage diabetes properly.

• Consider ED medication. Various treatment options for ED include PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra®), avanafil (Stendra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), and vardenafil (Levitra®), and Hims Hard Mints. These medications improve blood flow, making it easier to obtain and keep an erection. However, these drugs may not be suitable for every man, especially those with high blood pressure or heart conditions.

Contact a healthcare provider to discuss any health concerns or questions before adding a new medication to your diabetes care regimen.

Don’t have diabetes but are still worried about your sugar consumption? It’s a valid concern.

Excess sugar can lead to all of the sexual problems listed above, including ED, ejaculation disorders, and low sexual desire, by increasing your risk of obesity and related health issues.

Studies show that people in the U.S. consume more than 300 percent of the daily recommended amount of added sugars. This excess sugar contributes to obesity and increases your chances of developing insulin resistance and, eventually, type 2 diabetes.

Excess sugar and obesity are also linked to heart disease, and heart disease is a known contributor to sexual dysfunctions like low sex drive, sexual dissatisfaction, ED, and premature ejaculation.

How does diabetes affect a man sexually? It turns out this condition can prevent you from having a healthy sex life in a few ways:

• Diabetes can damage your blood vessels and nerves, leading to ED and ejaculation problems. However, such problems can develop over several years, giving you ample time to get your diabetes under control and take preventative actions.

• Diabetes can mess with your hormones. Many diabetics have low testosterone, a condition linked to low libido and ED.

• Diabetes can lead to mental distress. Mental health plays a big role in sexual health. Dealing with diabetes can deplete your energy levels and confidence, leading to performance anxiety and low sexual desire.

While there’s no cure for diabetes, there are ways to manage blood sugar glucose levels and improve your sex life and overall well-being through medication and healthy lifestyle changes.

Explore erectile dysfunction treatment options to see if you qualify today.