Diabetes and Sex

At several different times in your life, you are bound to have concerns about how diabetes affects your sexual health. Even though it may be tough to voice what's bothering you, talk to your health care team.

Most people would rather have a tooth extracted than discuss their sex life with a doctor or nurse. But, the truth is that diabetes can affect your sexual performance, your choices of birth control, and how you respond to the aging of your reproductive system. It is worthwhile to open the lines of communication with your health care team. Rest assured, they will not be shocked by your questions, and there are ways of coping with any problem you might face.

For men with diabetes, the major concern is impotence worry about erectile dysfunction (ED) or anxiety about how to treat it if it happens. Men and women both may share concerns about birth control and safe sex. For women with diabetes, sexual problems may include poor vaginal lubrication and pain during intercourse or diminished sexual desire and problems achieving orgasm. In addition, women need to deal with the effects of sex hormones on blood glucose levels, throughout the menstrual cycle and as they experience menopause.

Women with diabetes have extra challenges as they prepare for pregnancy and carry a growing baby. Don't face these important issues alone just because they concern your sexual life. Sex is a part of each of our lives as humans and belongs in a healthy life.

Glucose Levels and the Estrogen Cycle

Menstruation

Andrea had been living with type 1 diabetes since she was a
teenager and had been doing reasonably well. Last year, she
decided to try to more closely monitor her blood glucose levels.

Through hard work, she mastered balancing her insulin doses
with her food and exercise but noticed that things became more
difficult about a week before her period. Her blood glucose levels
were much higher than usual, even though she was careful to do
everything she always did to manage them. Her provider asked if
she might be eating more than she thought during these times, but
she knew that wasn't true. What was happening?

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At first, you think you're just imagining it. You're going along and everything seems fine. You're in good spirits, eating well, getting regular workouts, and your blood glucose levels are on target most of the time. Then, for some unexplained reason, everything seems out of whack. Maybe your blood glucose levels are too high. Or maybe they're too low. Then you check the calendar. Oh, yeah - it's that time of the month.