Jan 10 2010
Men . . . Listen Up, and Take Warning
It affects your sex-life, and even though she’s understanding, your partner may not be too happy about that. It is especially sad for younger couples. But thank goodness for the medications of our modern age that at least compensate in part. But far better to take action as early as possible to counter this side effect before its insidious actions become beyond repair.
We are talking here about erectile dysfunction, e-d as it is now often called and about which we see so many television commercials extolling the benefits of one pharmaceutical pill or another, trying to make light of a delicate situation, but off the TV screen it is not a matter to take lightly, much anguish is suffered by otherwise virile men facing this unhappy condition. Diabetes causes impairments to nerves and damages blood vessel and affects muscle function. My doctor called it incipient vascular something or other, whatever, you soon know the results, and it’s not easy to deal with.
Most men will eventually experience erectile dysfunction to some extent during their lifetime – it’s called “impotence”, don’t you hate that word? – but it tends to occur in diabetic men 10 to 15 years earlier than in non diabetic males and worsens with age. According to some medical sources, at age 50 and above, while you are still young, active and energetic in everything else, when your body is still producing adequate amounts of testosterone, about 50% to 60% of men with diabetes will probably be having difficulties, and over age 70 it’s mostly over for 95% of diabetic men. What kind of life is that? Do you want to depend on Viagara, Levitra, or Cialis?
And if you have trouble with your heart, as many diabetics do, such e-d medications may cause dangerous interactions with heart medicines, so now that’s an added factor to be concerned about and that apprehension can be an added contribution to the erectile problem.
So take heed, follow the exercise plan, the dietary suggestions, lose weight, and do whatever else your doctor advises before it’s too late. Think of the benefits.
For more information on this diabetes related topic:
Visit the WebMD article titled Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) & Diabetes at:
http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/ed-diabetes
A four page article by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor of NaturalNews.com, titled
Sexual Functioning in Men can be Fully Restored Naturally can be found at:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026219_testosterone_chrysin_libido.html
and from Life Extension magazine there is this even more detailed article titled Replenish Testosterone Naturally at:
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2000/jan00-cover2.html
I must admit I have not read this in full, it is quite old, from January 2000 and there are later articles but one thing that caught my attention at the end of that particular article was this statement:
“For the average male over age 40, increasing free testosterone can restore the sexual fire of youth. The only downside to increasing free testosterone levels to those of a healthy 21-year-old is the potential effects it may have on men with prostate cancer. Before embarking on a testosterone-enhancement program a baseline blood PSA test and a digital rectal exam taken to rule out existing prostate cancer. When using testosterone drugs, PSA blood tests should be taken every 30-45 days for the first five months to rule out hidden prostate cancer.”
And just one more, again from Barbara Minton, may be of interest on testosterone and with the alarming title:
Low Testosterone in Men Linked to Huge Increase in Risk of Death. How valid are these scarey headlines I don’t kmow, especially the words “Huge Increase”, or whether they are just sensationalized for readership effect, but the article can be found at
http://www.naturalnews.com/025293.html
Welcoming your input
Please contribute your comments and opinions or experiences, they can be of interest to your fellow diabetics and if you wish, criticize whatever you see here.