ERECTILE dysfunction (ED) is a common problem for people with diabetes, but several treatments can help.
ED involves trouble maintaining an erection for sexual activity. The cause may be psychological or physical.
During arousal in males, the brain sends signals that cause more blood to flow into the penis, the blood collects and becomes pressurized, leading to an erection.
In a person with ED, something is impeding this process. Medications can help by relaxing blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis.
ED pills are often phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These block the PDE5 enzyme, which helps control blood flow.
Disrupting this enzyme causes the smooth muscle in arterial blood vessels to relax, increasing blood flow. Meanwhile, the veins constrict, causing a mismatch in blood flow that leads to penile rigidity.
Most people who take ED pills do so before sexual activity. In this case, it is still necessary to be aroused for the pill to work.
Males with diabetes are three times more likely to experience ED than males without the condition. In some cases, high blood sugar levels cause nerve or blood vessel damage that leads to ED.
Other factors, such as smoking and having overweight or obesity, can also increase the risk of ED. In addition, people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, and the treatments for these may lead to ED.
Most people with diabetes can take ED pills, but it is essential to talk with a doctor first, as these medications can affect a person’s heart rate and vision and may interact with other medications.
Some ED medication options include:
Sildenafil
Sildenafil (Viagra) is a PDE5 inhibitor. It starts working after about 30 minutes and the effects last for up to 4 hours.
It is effective for treating ED, but some side effects include: hot flashes, a runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle and back pain, dizziness, nausea, vision problems.
In rare cases, side effects can be serious. These can include chest pain and painful erections that last several hours.
Tadalafil
Tadalafil (Cialis) is another PDE5 inhibitor for ED. Like other drugs in this class, it treats ED by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the penis. The effects can last for up to 36 hours, and some people take this medication daily to treat both ED.
