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Men - Are you embarrassed to post on sexual problems related to diabetes ?

There is one BIG problem with discussing very private matters on this forum, whether it be a man or a woman, and this makes it very difficult for some to open up.

The reason is because it is a public forum. Any Tom, **** or Harriet can read it. Not only that, various threads and posts are put on DCUK's Facebook page for the whole world to see and comment on. If one's name or avatar is a beacon to others to say who you are in real life, then a post could find itself going viral.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
There is one BIG problem with discussing very private matters on this forum, whether it be a man or a woman, and this makes it very difficult for some to open up.

The reason is because it is a public forum. Any Tom, **** or Harriet can read it. Not only that, various threads and posts are put on DCUK's Facebook page for the whole world to see and comment on. If one's name or avatar is a beacon to others to say who you are in real life, then a post could find itself going viral.
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Problem is once you pick your user name your pretty well stuck with it.
 
*So this is only for the over-18s I suppose.*
Sounds like the thread has - and no offence - become a thread for talking about how comfortable we are/aren't talking about erectile dysfunction for people with diabetes, rather than actually talking about the issue - erm, at hand.
Personally, I don't care if it's women or men reading or writing here - I'm a straight man and want to know the experience from both sides.
I am 37, have had type 1 diabetes for almost 10 years, and am starting to seriously think my diabetes - although quite well-controlled - is affecting my sensitivity and maybe stopping me coming as often as I'd like during 'the act' (in case certain words are censored).
I believe I've had ED, well mainly issues coming (during the act, not really by myself), for maybe 6 years.
Until now, I convinced myself it was mostly psychological but I don't really believe that anymore. Yes, if I'm sleeping with someone I don't know well, maybe I'm more anxious but things still don't work perfectly when I'm with someone I'm comfortable with. Things work but it feels like it's not 100% reliable, if you get me.
I've never been someone who comes quick - i don't think my penis knows what premature means - but to cut a long story short, i think there's something diabetes-related going on down there.
Anyway, I thought I'd write something fairly open and honest to try to encourage others to do the same. This has affected me a lot and potentially stopped relationships from developing and potentially harmed other relationships, so I'm sure it's a serious issue for me.
 
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jbriscoe26 said:
*So this is only for the over-18s I suppose.*
Sounds like the thread has - and no offence - become a thread for talking about how comfortable we are/aren't talking about erectile dysfunction for people with diabetes, rather than actually talking about the issue - erm, at hand.
Personally, I don't care if it's women or men reading or writing here - I'm a straight man and want to know the experience from both sides.
I am 37, have had type 1 diabetes for almost 10 years, and am starting to seriously think my diabetes - although quite well-controlled - is affecting my sensitivity and maybe stopping me coming as often as I'd like during 'the act' (in case certain words are censored).
I believe I've had ED, well mainly issues coming (during the act, not really by myself), for maybe 6 years.
Until now, I convinced myself it was mostly psychological but I don't really believe that anymore. Yes, if I'm sleeping with someone I don't know well, maybe I'm more anxious but things still don't work perfectly when I'm with someone I'm comfortable with. Things work but it feels like it's not 100% reliable, if you get me.
I've never been someone who comes quick - i don't think my penis knows what premature means - but to cut a long story short, i think there's something diabetes-related going on down there.
Anyway, I thought I'd write something fairly open and honest to try to encourage others to do the same. This has affected me a lot and potentially stopped relationships from developing and potentially harmed other relationships, so I'm sure it's a serious issue for me.
Click to expand...
Not my area (old female t2) but applaud your honesty and wordsmithery! Excellent post.
 
I like to bring up alternate ways of dealing with the complications of diabetes - both autoimmune and metabolic I take it? In this instance?

In Sweden, which has been reported as having the best diabetes care in the EU, so arguably - in the world, a pamphlet on sex and the person with diabetes is given out on diagnosis (type 2). Swedes have a very down to earth attitude to sex, is my understanding.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED - so many EDs!) is head of the list, but there is a woman's equivalent apparently, which is vaginal dryness, which can come along at menopause also. It's all in the pamphlet. I've kept it from 9 years ago, and look at it from time to time - love those Swedes.

In the American based Forum, Daily Diabetes, they have a section on sex.

So the conclusion I have come to is, this is deeply a cultural attitude thing. As regards to the English-speaking world, I grew up with the Carry On movies from Britain, and 'Love American Style' on the tele from the US, so the idea that "No sex please, we're British", coming in jokes from Brits themselves, is part of the landscape?

(Mother Nature too, has her reasons to lower the rate of seniors having potentially reproductive sex, is another way of looking at ED and dryness in older populations - regardless of the blood glucose regulation. But blood glucose regulation is also about blood flow? So hence closer relationship and complication?)

Do pitch in!
 
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AloeSvea said:
I like to bring up alternate ways of dealing with the complications of diabetes - both autoimmune and metabolic I take it? In this instance?

In Sweden, which has been reported as having the best diabetes care in the EU, so arguably - in the world, a pamphlet on sex and the person with diabetes is given out on diagnosis (type 2). Swedes have a very down to earth attitude to sex, is my understanding.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED - so many EDs!) is head of the list, but there is a woman's equivalent apparently, which is vaginal dryness, which can come along at menopause also. It's all in the pamphlet. I've kept it from 9 years ago, and look at it from time to time - love those Swedes.

In the American based Forum, Daily Diabetes, they have a section on sex.

So the conclusion I have come to is, this is deeply a cultural attitude thing. As regards to the English-speaking world, I grew up with the Carry On movies from Britain, and 'Love American Style' on the tele from the US, so the idea that "No sex please, we're British", coming in jokes from Brits themselves, is part of the landscape?

(Mother Nature too, has her reasons to lower the rate of seniors having potentially reproductive sex, is another way of looking at ED and dryness in older populations - regardless of the blood glucose regulation. But blood glucose regulation is also about blood flow? So hence closer relationship and complication?)

Do pitch in!
Click to expand...
Maybe it is cultural, so let's change the culture :) I think the reason I don't mind talking about these things so much is because I've been through so many situations in my life that there's no shame left :p and I don't live in the UK anymore so maybe I've been influenced by other more open cultures and partners.
 
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