Sexual Problems with type 2 diabetes

Peter J Weeks

Newbie
Messages
1
I have type 2 Diabetes diagnosed 18 months ago. Prior to developing Diabetes I was always a sexually active man and woke up every morning with an erection. Since developing Diabetes I have when my glucose level is high, found it almost impossible to develop or attain an erection, but all is not lost, I find this a good indicator that I have been overindulging in my calories, overhauling my diet and bringing my glucose level down results in a return of those sexual urges and a return to those well known conditions and feelings first thing in the morning.
 
Messages
13
Dislikes
Smoking, poor oral hygeine, tatoos
I'm female. When I was diagnosed T2 about 11 years ago I went through a period of depression and my desires of all kinds went haywire. Could your boyfriend be a bit depressed about his diagnosis? Could he have any other health problems that haven't been diagnosed yet? Are any of his other desires affected? I found it especially hard to enjoy food and other likes/things that could be classified as desires. The mind is very powerful, much more than we realise. I had a course of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and found it useful. It helped me get things generally in perspective and my desires started to come back. I still have a problem with sex, but I do have several other health problems that interfere with libido. Fortunately I have a very supportive wonderful partner who understands it's difficult for me. He's not demanding in the sex department and generally I don't know what I'd do without him. Do get your boyfriend to see his GP and Diabetes Specialist Nurse. Get them to test for other problems, eg Thyroid, Anaemia. And don't be embarassed. They have heard it all before.
 

Warrior_14

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
i had the same problems as your husband and i was prescribed viagra at first then i was changed to ciallis which is a lot better and works for 24 to 48 hours after taking , and not like the viagra that was an instant hit , it made me feel that i was making an appointment for sex with taking a viagra but the ciallis is great with me so i would mention them to his doctor , i hope this helps
What is ciallis
 

teej77

Member
Messages
13
Ummm, wot about us women?
Does any one else female find their libido waining?
Id love to know, so i dont feel alone! :oops: :wink: :oops:
I dont have a libido at all and havent had for about 3 years its hard but my other half and i know about it and we try and work around it all the time. Wish we could get viagra too ...
 

Living-by-the-beach

Well-Known Member
Messages
520
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
My boyfriend was diagnosed with this the middle of last year.

Obviously be is overweight and also drank too much alcohol but to begin with his sex drive was still fine.

He is taking Metformin and now drinks less but has not yet lost any specific amount of weight.

I have noticed that in the run up to Xmas his sex drive started to dwindle away even more and we have not had sex since Xmas.

He says he has lost desire and doesnt even get the urge anymore. We tried the other night and he had no urge and couldnt even get an erection.


Im so upset and dont know what to do cos we are both worried he wont get any "desire" to do it back and I dont want to be in a sexless relationship.

I would appreciate it if anybody who has had these problems could give me some advice and let me know if they have had the same experiences and how they got over them.

@meme

I thought I'd chime in. Diagnosed T2DM 3 years ago, its been for me a learning curve. I did suffer from ED prior to my diagnosis but I lived with the condition. Then the T2DM diagnosis came along and what's really motivated me is the neuropathy in my feet. So I've been a fiend for getting healthier.

I discovered (I live in the US) Geoff Whitington and his tale http://www.fixingdad.com/watch-the-film and that docu-drama has inspired my game plan to get more exercise and better health. Last month I cycled 630 miles. What I am noticing now I feel like a 20 year old and my libido is thru the roof. Its put a spring in our family all over again. Everything is working much better these days..
 

wookie101

Well-Known Member
Messages
108
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Wow, amazingly informative everyone!

I know something is wrong and you're all right, I ought to man up and speak to the Dr about my problem
 

Jamesuk9

Well-Known Member
Messages
504
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Wow, amazingly informative everyone!

I know something is wrong and you're all right, I ought to man up and speak to the Dr about my problem
They hear it everyday, it's no big deal... Speak to the doc, they will help....

You would be surprised how many of normal folks everyday health issues affect doctors too...
 
S

serenity648

Guest
This happened to a friends husband. He went to the doctors, got told he couldnt get viagra on the NHS, and left holding a prescription. When he got home and read the info, they were antidepressants!!!

Friend and hubby went straight back and complained to the surgery manager, and got to see another doctor, where hubby was sent for a raft of blood tests to rule out anything else. All was fine and normal, but dont rule out any cause other than diabetes, get things checked. Lots of illnesses can cause ED.

Friend and hubby havent got any further with any treatment for hubby, but its early days yet. But the surgery were not helpful.
 

miahara

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,019
Type of diabetes
Type 3c
Treatment type
Insulin
This happened to a friends husband. He went to the doctors, got told he couldnt get viagra on the NHS, and left holding a prescription. When he got home and read the info, they were antidepressants!!!

Friend and hubby went straight back and complained to the surgery manager, and got to see another doctor, where hubby was sent for a raft of blood tests to rule out anything else. All was fine and normal, but dont rule out any cause other than diabetes, get things checked. Lots of illnesses can cause ED.

Friend and hubby havent got any further with any treatment for hubby, but its early days yet. But the surgery were not helpful.

From "NHS Choices" :

Yes, medication for erectile dysfunction (ED) is available on the NHS. It's available on prescription from GPs and specialists.

There were restrictions on who could have these treatments on the NHS until 2014, but some of these restrictions have since been lifted as cheaper medicines became available.

ED medicines available on the NHS
The following medications for ED can be prescribed on the NHS:

  • sildenafil (an unbrandedversion of Viagra)
  • moxisylyte hydrochloride (Opilon)
  • apomorphine hydrochloride
Of these, sildenafil is the most widely available on the NHS in England.

Branded Viagra, tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Spedra) aren't available on the NHS except in certain circumstances.
 

Pauntiep

Well-Known Member
Messages
59
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
How can you deal with problems with husband's labido if he won't even talk to you about it, let alone go to see the doctor?
 

seanj67

Well-Known Member
Messages
283
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Branded Viagra, tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Spedra) aren't available on the NHS except in certain circumstances.

Just for info, branded Cialis is certainly available on the NHS - I have it on my repeat prescription and have had for several years. I spoke to my GP about the issue and he issued the prescription.

That said, I've had unbranded Tadalafil which I used to buy and it was the same - generic meds are fine. Most on my diabetes meds are now unbranded. If it works and saves money then I'm ok with it.
 
S

serenity648

Guest
Just for info, branded Cialis is certainly available on the NHS - I have it on my repeat prescription and have had for several years. I spoke to my GP about the issue and he issued the prescription.

That said, I've had unbranded Tadalafil which I used to buy and it was the same - generic meds are fine. Most on my diabetes meds are now unbranded. If it works and saves money then I'm ok with it.
Interesting. My friend is in Wales and her husbands doctor said he could only issue a private prescription for Cialis, and nothing else.
 

seanj67

Well-Known Member
Messages
283
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Interesting. My friend is in Wales and her husbands doctor said he could only issue a private prescription for Cialis, and nothing else.

Hmmm, I wonder if it's an NHS Wales thing perhaps? I was offered both Cialis & Viagra...

S
 

David_A_Hughes

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I have Cialis on prescription, and was told I could have it because my type 2 is a 'blood related problem'. I rarely use it, because it's not me that's lost libido! (sigh)
 

MarcoRiveira

Well-Known Member
Messages
105
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
If "Diabetes can damage the blood vessels and make erection impossible.", does that mean Viagra or others will not work ?
 

Cracker467

Active Member
Messages
43
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
My boyfriend was diagnosed with this the middle of last year.

Obviously be is overweight and also drank too much alcohol but to begin with his sex drive was still fine.

He is taking Metformin and now drinks less but has not yet lost any specific amount of weight.

I have noticed that in the run up to Xmas his sex drive started to dwindle away even more and we have not had sex since Xmas.

He says he has lost desire and doesnt even get the urge anymore. We tried the other night and he had no urge and couldnt even get an erection.


Im so upset and dont know what to do cos we are both worried he wont get any "desire" to do it back and I dont want to be in a sexless relationship.

I would appreciate it if anybody who has had these problems could give me some advice and let me know if they have had the same experiences and how they got over them.
Has your boyfriend had his testosterone levels checked? If his testosterone levels are on the low side this will affect his libido.
 
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol.
A weight-control strategy might include:--
  • Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
  • Eating smaller portions
  • Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
  • Being physically active
Here are some other ways that alcohol can affect diabetes:--
* While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level -- sometimes causing it to drop into
dangerous levels.
* Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.
* Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat and may affect your blood sugar control.
* Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.
* Alcohol may increase triglyceride levels.
* Alcohol may increase blood pressure.
* Alcohol can cause flushing, nausea, increased heart rate, and slurred speech.
Low libido, or sexual desire, is a real problem, one that affects people withdiabetes more than those without. Men and women experience low libido as a result of poorly controlled diabetes. If your sex drive is stalled, first look to yourdiabetes control and take steps to lower your blood glucose levels.
Source:--
https://medlineplus.gov/weightcontrol.html
https://www.google.co.in/?gws_rd=ssl#q=diabetes+and+decreased+libido
 

johnnyxs

Active Member
Messages
41
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Noise, darkness,socialising,
MeMe I think cracker has probably hit the nail on the head
. My first thought also was low Testosterone which invariably means a problem with the Pituitary producing too much Prolactin.
Prolactin is a hormone that regulates Testosterone production. To higher production of Prolactin cuts Testosterone production and this is freqently caused by a benigh tumour on the Pituitary.

I had had non existant libido for 15 years amongst other syptoms but my Doctor ignored this. Ultimately I collapsed with a BS level of 38mmol/L and was diagnosed T2 Diabetic but I insisted on seeing an Endo who tested my Testosterone levels which were 2nmol/L ! reference range 6-25.7 nmol/L
Turns out I have a Macro Prolactinoma (benigh tumour) on my Pituitary ,probably for many years.
Don't let your low libido , fatigue, depression, stress anxiety and other symptoms ruin your relationship and life , insist on a Testosterone and Prolactin blood test to eliminate a Pituitary problem.

If it turns out to be the Pituitary don't worry . 99.9% of pituitary tumours are benigh and can be successfully reversed with Gabergoline treatment which shrinks the tumour and restores Testosterone levels. Also there are several testosterone boosting treatments available also
 
Last edited:

Pauntiep

Well-Known Member
Messages
59
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Some antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs cause increased prolactin