One of the common but rarely discussed symptoms in men who suffer from diabetes (Types 1 and 2) is the inability to maintain an erection. According to the Mayo Clinic, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can occur earlier in men with diabetes than in men without the disease, and difficulty sustaining an erection might precede the diabetes diagnosis.
Statistics
Fifty percent of men diagnosed with diabetes have ED, which means 1 in 2 men will suffer from the condition. It is also suggested that ED occurs 10 – 15 years sooner in men with diabetes than men without.
The National Library of Medicine reports that the prevalence of ED in diabetic men ranges from 35 to 90 percent.
Connection Between Diabetes and ED
There are a number of factors which connect the two conditions but the correlation boils down to damaged nerves, blood vessels, and muscle function often being impacted in men the longer they live with diabetes, and especially for those with higher blood sugars over time.
Additionally, diabetes contributes to erectile dysfunction caused by one or more of the following:
- Inadequate blood flow to the penis, which is supplied by the penile arteries
- Nerve dysfunction in the penis
- a lack of sexually enticing stimulation, as perceived by your brain
Case Study
Emmy award-nominated reporter Benno Schmidt, now a longtime diabetes activist, was diagnosed at age 20 of his Type 1 Diabetes, “I thought ED was a diabetes complication that I’d just have to live with...After a while I was resigned to the fact that I just wasn’t going to have sex,” he said to Healthline.com. In Schmidt’s case, he underwent a penile implant surgery, in 2013, which changed his life. It can be cost prohibitive for many people but there are also financial assistance programs for such procedures if your insurance policy doesn’t cover this surgery. And of course, there are medications and wellness aids that can treat this disorder as well.
What Can be Done
It’s still possible to remedy ED through relatively simple lifestyle changes, such as ensuring you get sufficient sleep, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol and stress.
For those who would rather exhaust all natural possibilities before resorting to surgery or medications for ED, which may produce uncomfortable side effects, Firmtech’s Performance or Tech Ring remains one of the most effective and beneficial products on the market. By restricting the blood flow back into the body, FirmTech rings are designed to help men stay harder, longer. The TechRing can also track nocturnal erection activity and data on strength of erections. FirmTech devices are also FDA registered and urologist recommended.
To learn more about FirmTech’s Tech Ring which can signal how health conditions are contributing to ED, visit MyFirmTech.com
