• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Diabetic troubles as a man...

A

andy1984

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
If anyone has any words of wisdom or help/advice I would be very grateful. Some info about me.... I have not long turned 29, been a type 1 diabetic since I was 12.

My last hba1c was 6.5 and in general I have kept good control, whilst at Uni I did have a few wild times but nothing too bad.

Never had any issues with my eyes, feet or anything.

I had a weird flu type bug in August and lost quite a few pounds as a result but all good otherwise. However around October time, I noticed issues "down there". In general I've found it difficult to get as good an erection as normal.

I was seeing a new girl around the same time so or course the queries of shyness/new girl etc came about. However it's clear I'm not as I used to be. I went the doctors and was given Viagra/Levitra but they didn't help.

Cialis did help however not as well as hoped...I seemed to be getting worse and worse if anything though. There's a chance some of it is in my mind however I am really down about this and whilst the girl I've been seeing is all good about it, this is killing me slowly. I feel it's started to take over my normal thinking, am I doomed? Will anyone else ever want me.... If me and this girl don't work out for example?

I understand there's the option of pumps/injections but in all honesty it would make me feel like a freak. I see my urologist at the end of the month so have options to talk about there.

I have been doing a lot less exercise over the past few years... And since this happened in October I've been a bit of a ghost, feel like slowly my body and mind is giving up but I don't want to... I really feel alone and worried but having read the internet... I hear it's quite common for diabetic men which didn't help my feelings

Any words of advice or anything I could try or do!? Do most type 1 men see this at some stage? :-(((



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Sorry, as you can see not a man. But what freaks you out about a pump, plus it's not only men that have issues, so do women(I'm in a loving relationship married 16yrs,2kids, but I have issues). So don't think it's just men. Just take your time, if your girlfriend(is a keeper), she will understand and work through the issues with you, if she is understanding ask her to attend appointments, nothing like a bit of moral support, we all need it, from time to time, plus it is not the end of the world, foreplay for instance(sorry to be blunt)
 
Sorry I should have mentioned... My testosterone levels and various other tests came back fine. However I am not sure if I had my cortisol checked.

I use novo rapid and lantus.

The pump option well... I don't know. I just feel weird, I just wanna be back to usual self in honesty

One other thing to note, my heart seems to pump like 10 to the dozen whenever I am getting "in the zone" but it still doesn't feel the same
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Wearing a pump does not make you any different instead of so many jabs you do one every 2-3 days depending on the sets you are using. I've been diabetic for 33 years starting out on 2 jabs a day, then MDI till I got a pump in Nov, I would not give the pump up, When I started it felt strange, would keep it in a case and at night in pj bottoms, now I let it roam round the bed with me, and as for intimate moments we just go with the flow, but I don't disconnect from my pump. It takes about a week to get used to.
 
Julie1471 said:
Sorry borofergie, dies vitadwork for females as well
Click to expand...
Vitamin D works for everyone. Leaving in cold dark northern Europe, we don't get enough of it. Make sure that you spend as much time as you can, out in the sunlight. Mr Julie1471 will thank you for it.
 
Julie sorry, I should have been more clear. I'm not talking about pumps/injections related to diabetes. More so related to erections... Ha. This is my whole reasoning for posting, I am on injections however for diabetes.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
andy1984 said:
Julie sorry, I should have been more clear. I'm not talking about pumps/injections related to diabetes. More so related to erections... Ha. This is my whole reasoning for posting, I am on injections however for diabetes.
Click to expand...

Oh. So I get all excited about pumps, and now you tell me I was getting all worked up about a penis pump. Cheers dude...

 
Omg,,borofergie pmsl, this isn't that kind of pump. ( sorry just had to say ). Plus borofergie can chicks have bionic bits , hubby has just smacked me for this post, but a bit of s&m never hurt anyone
 

I noticed my sex drive was at an all time low after about 19 weeks of low carb while cutting. Could be that if you're a low carber, if so try a refeed day ever week or two if you still want to low carb, worked for me.

Also fats are pretty much essential for making hormones like testosterone, if you are cutting out a macro-nutrient like a lot of people tend to do it could be the cause.

If neither of those are the case then I'd go get your bloods checked.
 
I would say that if Viagra didn't work that it is likely not a physical problem, which is good news. Viagra's motto should be, "where there's a will, there's a way". It translates desire into action but it does not work if your desire is inhibited. It's difficult with a new girlfriend. If it was an existing girlfriend there are relaxation exercises you can do together that I'm sure would help.

Does your hospital diabetes clinic have a MARS unit? They will have a whole spectrum of support for ED. I would see them.

You are young and have good HBa1c. I really don't think it's likely you have a physiological problem. I've had T1 twice as long as you, my control has often been ****, and I've never experienced any diabetic related problems down there. I really think it's just anxiety. I think you are going to be fine. It's often when a girlfriend is really important to us that we can get the most nervous.

If you already intimate with your girlfriend and she is supportive, you can do touch exercises with her. The idea is to have no goals and no objectives - no need for orgasm, erection or intercourse - just touch and see what feels nice and go with it, take all the time in the world to do nothing in particular.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Good sense from Spiker - I personally think it is unlikely to be a physical problem (though be sure to get a thorough 'all clear' from the doc on that)
Sounds like your blood glucose management has been good, and even allowing for occasional 'lapses' it is unlikely that it would result in any ED.

The trouble is, that once you start to worry about it, the worse it is likely to get (which is perhaps what you are experiencing). I suggest you follow Spiker's advice - no pressure intimacy.
Get yourself along to Boots and buy a bumper bottle of of Baby Oil. By the time you've run out, I'm betting ED will be a thing of the past.
 
Could be psychological. I've been through a few phases so to speak where it's been a problem. I know it wasn't physical as I was waking up standing proud!

Tom
 
Julie1471 said:
Omg,,borofergie pmsl, this isn't that kind of pump. ( sorry just had to say ). Plus borofergie can chicks have bionic bits , hubby has just smacked me for this post, but a bit of s&m never hurt anyone
Click to expand...

This little exchange is hilarious. I'm just going to make the observation that if S&M doesn't hurt, you're probably doing it wrong.
 

Andy, it is quite common. I can appreciate how frustrating and anxiety-proving it is for you. It sounds like you're in pretty good form overall, but this phenomenon we're talking about is a marvel of hormones, nerves and circulation - and diabetes plays holy hell with all of those. I did read up on it when I got concerned and there does appear to be a wide range of treatments of varying ease of use and effectiveness. I did go as far as having my testosterone levels checked and they were fine.

I got my diagnosis three years ago (I'm 50) but I haven't slept, or wished to sleep, with anyone in almost fifteen years. So, what am I saying? The situation can be improved with some effort, an effort worth making at your age, and as the years pass, the urgency lessens and it might not seem so much of an issue. All things considered, there is no - ahem - mechanical fault but things get complicated when there is someone else involved and fail to happen when you want them to. With an understanding playmate who appreciates you need to make it to the finish line by yourself, anything's possible.

Do your own research and work your urologist hard and be prepared to challenge him if his advice seems too pat or too text-book.
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

Thought I would follow up on this and let you guys know that....I've turned a corner! I think I was pret down about it all, and due to one thing or another it was killing my confidence. I am now fully working again, both with and without tablets off ourse with tablets it's a bit harder than usual....ha but I'm fine without.

I think it's fair to say that your mind can sometimes be the key, for anything! If you put your mind to it..... Etc. I have also taken the last few weeks to exercise more and my sugars have been overall very balanced, average of 7 for last 2 weeks which I'm happy with. So take note guys - it's possible to reverse it!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…