{"id":7969,"date":"2015-04-06T03:27:27","date_gmt":"2015-04-06T03:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edrugstore.md\/blog\/?p=7969"},"modified":"2015-04-06T18:55:02","modified_gmt":"2015-04-06T18:55:02","slug":"healthy-habits-for-diabetics-with-erection-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/healthy-habits-for-diabetics-with-erection-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Habits for Diabetics with Erection Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Keeping
Keeping their blood glucose levels under control can help men with diabetes to avoid erection problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The incidence of impotence among diabetic men is about twice that seen among the general population, affecting roughly half of all men with diabetes, according to Erika Gebel Berg<\/a>, Ph.D., an associate editor of Diabetes Forecast.<\/p>\n

While the vast majority of all erection problems among the general population is attributable to compromised blood flow to the penis, the impotence risk factors among diabetics are more extensive and complex.<\/p>\n

Nerve Damage a Factor<\/b><\/p>\n

While compromised blood flow can cause erection problems in diabetic men, an equal or even greater risk factor is the nerve damage caused by diabetes. If diabetic neuropathy targets the pelvic nerves that control the penis and the blood vessels that supply it, this nerve damage can cause a break in the communications pathway between the brain and the penis. Such nerve damage can make erection much more difficult or even impossible.<\/p>\n

Further complicating the erectile process in men with type 2 diabetes is the increased incidence of hypogonadism among such men. Men with this condition produce less testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. This in and of itself has a minimal direct effect on the erection process, but it can significantly lower a man\u2019s sex drive, making it less likely that he will get an erection.<\/p>\n

Healthy Habits to Follow<\/b><\/p>\n

Men with diabetes hoping to minimize their risk of erection problems can take a number of steps to stay healthy and retain erectile function for as long as possible. A good first step, according to Gebel Berg, is to faithfully monitor your blood glucose levels so that you can keep them under control.<\/p>\n

Gebel Berg points out that diabetic men with poor blood glucose control are two to five times as likely to experience erection problems as those diabetic men with good glucose control. She cites a study that showed intensive blood glucose control among men who had had type 1 diabetes for up to 15 years significantly lowered the risk of impotence compared with those who followed conventional treatment methods.<\/p>\n

How to Reduce Impotence Risk<\/b><\/p>\n

In an article posted at DiabetesCare.net<\/a>, certified diabetes educator Clara Schneider offers some useful tips about steps diabetic men can take to minimize their chances of developing erection problems. Schneider, who is also a registered nurse, echoes Gebel Berg\u2019s advice about the importance of maintaining good blood glucose control, noting that \u00a8if your diabetes is out of control, this can lead to temporary impotence.\u00a8<\/p>\n

\"While
While a drink or two is fine, overindulging in alcohol can increase the risk of erection problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

High on Schneider\u2019s list of healthy habits to help prevent and control erection problems is a recommendation that smokers kick the habit and that nonsmokers steer clear of the habit. Apart from smoking\u2019s deleterious effects on overall health, it increases the risk of impotence sharply, compared with the risk of erection problems among men who never smoked. Schneider references a meta-analysis study that found current smokers had a 51 percent higher risk of impotence than men who had never smoked. The risk of of impotence among ex-smokers was 20 percent higher than that of men who had never smoked.<\/p>\n

Limit Alcohol Intake<\/b><\/p>\n

Schneider\u2019s recommendations also call for moderation in alcohol consumption. Drinking more than two alcoholic drinks daily can negatively affect blood flow and may also result in lower testosterone production. Lest there be any misunderstanding about what constitutes a drink, she cites the following standards:<\/p>\n