Symptoms of diabetes in men can vary. There might not be many men who think that impotence can turn out to be one of the symptoms of diabetes, but these symptoms, in the end, can have an impact on male sexual performance.
So, for men who experience sexual performance disorders, don’t immediately reach for the little blue pill. Try checking your blood sugar level first. If it turns out that your blood sugar levels are high, maybe that is the cause and you must deal with it. Here are a few more telltale signs to look out for…
Symptoms of Diabetes in Men which can Reduce Sexual Performance
Indeed, the common symptoms that may appear for men who have diabetes are frequent urination, frequent thirst, frequent hunger, a tired and weak body, and tingling in the hands and feet. However, there is a typical condition that also often appears in typical men and that is decreased sexual performance.
This is caused by diabetes that can reduce libido and trigger impotence in men. Diabetes can also cause a reduction in sperm count in the ejaculate. Here are some symptoms of diabetes in men which can reduce male sexual performance.
• Impotence or erectile dysfunction
Did you know that 35% to 75% of men with diabetes have experienced impotence? High blood sugar levels also make people with diabetes at risk of impotence 10-15 years faster, compared to men with normal blood sugar levels.
The mechanism of impotence as a symptom of diabetes in men is a complicated one. However, this condition is considered related to the damage on nerves, blood vessels, and muscle function that are caused by high blood sugar levels, and when that happens, even with the best will in the world, achieving an erection becomes difficult.
• Decreased libido
A decrease in the desire to have sex (a decreased libido) usually occurs in men who are elderly. But in men with diabetes, especially type 2, the risk of a man experiencing it sooner will increase.
The risk of decreased libido will also increase if diabetes is accompanied by being overweight.
Decreased libido is associated with decreased levels of the hormone testosterone in the body. Besides affecting sexual performance, decreased production of this hormone will also cause other disorders, for example, a weak body, mood swings, as well as weak erections.
• Retrograde ejaculation
Men with diabetes can also experience retrograde ejaculation when semen is released instead into the bladder. Symptoms that can be felt if this happens is that the amount of semen feels less during ejaculation.
This condition can occur because diabetes has damaged nerves in the bladder. Thus, this organ cannot function properly. In addition to influencing sexual performance, retrograde ejaculation can also cause infertility.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Men besides Sexual Performance Problems
In addition to the three conditions above, there are some other symptoms of diabetes in men that you need to be aware of, such as:
• Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections occur when the channel that connects the kidneys and bladder experiences inflammation or infection. In men who have diabetes, the amount of sugar contained in urine makes the bacteria that cause infections more easily to develop.
• Fungal infections of the genitals
Genital fungal infections can also occur in men who have diabetes. This is caused by excess sugar in the blood that enters the urine. The excess sugar is then used as an intake for fungus to grow.
Characteristic fungal infections in the genitals of men who suffer from diabetes can be redness, swelling, and itching on the head of the penis, arising unpleasant odor, white lumps appear on the skin of the penis and causes pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Damage to the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Diabetes can harm the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which controls the dilation or narrowing of blood vessels and causes sexual problems. Blood vessels damaged by diabetes can slow blood flow to the penis. The damage to blood vessels and nerves in the penis due to diabetes can cause impotence.
How to Prevent the Symptoms of Diabetes in Men?
To prevent diabetes, you need to know the risk factors first. In men, the conditions that most often lead to diabetes include:
o Smoking habits
o Being overweight
o Avoiding physical activity
o Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol
So, to prevent diabetes, you need to make an effort to avoid these risk factors. You can start with steps like:
• Eat healthy foods and exercise regularly
Changing your lifestyle to be healthier will not only prevent you from developing diabetes, but also symptoms such as impotence. Reducing foods that contain sugar and saturated fat, eat more fiber, and combined with regular exercise are the most important way to prevent diabetes.
• Give up smoking
Cigarettes will make blood sugar levels increase because smoking will make your body more resistant to insulin. This makes blood sugar levels more difficult to control. Therefore, stop smoking before you suffer from diabetes.
• Maintain an ideal body weight
Reducing excess weight a little can give a positive impact on the prevention of diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Because by having an ideal body weight, the production of the hormone testosterone in the body will increase, making blood flow to the penis smoother and erections can be maintained.
Recognizing the symptoms of diabetes in men from an early age will help you get treatment faster and more precisely. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you have started to feel the emergence of these symptoms.
