Are You at Risk for Impotence?
Knowing your risk factors will help you make the best health
decisions. Men who are most at risk for erectile dysfunction related to type 2
diabetes:
Have high blood sugar (glucose)
Know they have diabetes, but are not meeting the goals for
their A1C, or average glucose results
Have high cholesterol
Have high blood pressure
Have low testosterone
Are overweight or obese
Are 40 or older
Smoke cigarettes
Do not exercise
Breaking the Erectile Dysfunction-Type 2 Diabetes Link
Having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to live with erectile
dysfunction. The right diabetes treatment can help.
Follow these guidelines:
Follow these guidelines:
Get your diabetes under control. According to Dr. Nehra, the
most important number you need to stay on top of is your A1C, which is a blood
test that lets you know how well your blood sugar has been controlled for the
past few months. Lifestyle changes can help and so can medications. Diabetes
medications do not add to your risk for erectile dysfunction, says Nehra.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating a well-balanced,
nutritious diet and getting enough exercise will help both your diabetes and
your erectile dysfunction.
If you smoke, quit.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or obese,
losing even a small percent of your body weight will help control diabetes.
Obese men might also benefit from gastric bypass surgery, which has been shown
to relieve both erectile dysfunction and diabetes in some patients.
Seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. There are many ways
to treat erectile dysfunction, including pills, injections, vacuum pumps, and
surgery. Talk to your urologist about what you can do for erectile dysfunction
even while you are working to control your diabetes.
Get heart disease risk factors under control. Work with your
doctor to lower blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which can
contribute to erectile dysfunction.
The connection between impotence and diabetes is undeniable,
but that doesn’t mean you have to accept this outcome. Taking steps to control
your diabetes and reduce erectile dysfunction will improve your quality of
life.
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