Erectile dysfunction and diabetes - Erectile dysfunction, also referred to as ED or impotence, is a medical condition when a man is unable to maintain an erection long enough to allow sexual intercourse on a consistent basis. This is a short article giving some useful information about ED.

Diabetes is a condition when a person suffers from high blood sugar levels because the body's pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. ED is common in men suffering from diabetes as reported by the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). It is estimated that about half of the men with diabetes will suffer from ED within a decade of being diagnosed with diabetes.

High blood sugar levels cause progressive and permanent damage to the nerve and blood vessels in the body. Erection requires proper nerve function and blood flow to the penis.

Moreover, uncontrolled blood sugar levels eventually cause heart disease. As a matter of fact, when a man is suffering from ED, the family doctor really should check to make sure there is no indication of heart disease or diabetes.

There are many causes of ED as outlined in this article. Indeed many prescription medications can cause impotence as well so check with your pharmacist or family doctor.

Fixing ED should start by looking at all the possible non-medical causes such as stress, anxiety, alcohol use and many others.

Prescription drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are available to treat ED. They work by increasing blood flow to the penis. There are some side effects and risks in using these medication. Your pharmacist or family doctor can provide you with more information. Getting diabetes under control will ensure that it doesn't further cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves.

Many natural remedies are available to help treat ED and they are worth trying out first before considering prescription medications. Many of these herbal supplements have been shown in scientific studies to be effective.

References for Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes
Revised: August 8, 2010