Diabetes And Intimacy

Dr Manish Bothale explains how blood sugar control is crucial for better sexual functioning.

- Dr Manish Bothale

Diabetes and its complications

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect your body’s blood glucose consumption. Glucose is vital to your health because it is an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It is also your brain's main source of fuel. If you have Diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood and this in turn can lead to serious health problems. In simple words, Diabetes mellitus means elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels resulting from disturbed carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism due to insulin resistance or insulin deficiency.

Diabetes related complications arise when sugar levels are high (hyperglycaemia) or low (hypoglycaemia).

Hyperglycaemia (high sugar levels) occurs when the sugar levels are above the normal levels. The common symptoms include blurred vision, dry and itchy skin, weight loss and increase in appetite and thirst.

Hypoglycaemia (low sugar levels) occurs when the sugar levels dip below the normal levels. The common symptoms include dizziness, anxiety, sweating and nervousness.

If left untreated, Diabetes has the potential to cause serious health issues which include eye problems, kidney disease, nerve damage, cardiac problems, blood vessels disease and skeleto-muscular issues.

The above mentioned are most commonly discussed by people with their doctors. But there are some problems which people don't want to discuss or feel some kind of resistance to discuss with their doctor. What is rarely discussed is how these highs and lows of Diabetes cause sexual dysfunction in men and women.

Sexual dysfunction and Diabetes