Diagnosing Diabetic Impotence
If you experience diabetic
impotence, talking to your doctor about it is the first step in getting help. Your doctor may ask you about:
- Your medical history
- Your medications
- Your smoking and drinking habits
- The type and frequency of your sexual problems
- Other health conditions.
Your doctor may conduct a physical exam and laboratory tests to help pinpoint causes. Your blood glucose control and hormone levels also will be checked. The doctor may ask you whether you are depressed or have recently experienced upsetting changes in your life. In addition, you may be asked to do a test at home that checks for erections that occur while you sleep.
Treatments for diabetic impotence caused by nerve damage (also called neuropathy) include:
- Oral pills
- A vacuum pump
- Pellets placed in the urethra
- Shots administered directly into the penis
- Surgery.
All of these methods have benefits and drawbacks. Psychotherapy to reduce
anxiety or address other issues may be necessary. Surgery to implant a device to aid in erection or to repair arteries may also be considered.
Who Gets Diabetic Impotence?
Risk factors are conditions that increase your chances of getting a particular disease. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing that disease or condition.
Diabetic neuropathy, including related diabetic impotence, appears to be more common in people who:
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