The link between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of male impotence is well documented. Less well known is the association between type 1 diabetes and erection problems.
And type 1 is particularly insidious because it usually targets men at a younger age than those affected by type 2 diabetes.
To help fill in the gap in research about the link between type 1 diabetes and the risk of male impotence, a team of scientists affiliated with Italy’s Second University of Naples undertook a study to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction among type 1 diabetics.
The researchers recruited 151 men between the ages of 18 and 35 who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. For control purposes, they also recruited 60 healthy males in the same age range as the diabetics.
Erectile Function Assessed
Erectile function in both the type 1 diabetics and the young men in the control group was assessed using the self-administered Index of Erectile Function-5 and other similar multiple-choice questionnaires. They found that 37 percent of the diabetic men suffered from ED, compared with a 6 percent incidence of male impotence among the controls. Researchers also noted a higher incidence of depression among type 1 diabetics, particularly those suffering from impotence. The Italian researchers published their findings in the January 2017 issue of the “International Journal of Impotence Research.”
Men who suffer from type 1 diabetes can help to minimize their risk of developing male impotence by closely monitoring and managing blood glucose levels as well as seeking counseling for mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
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