By Dr Lye Chuan Way / Associate Professor Dr Hazreen Abdul Majid

In conjunction with the upcoming International Men's Health Week 2021 (June 14-20), we would like to shed some light on erectile dysfunction (ED) and diabetes.

ED is the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex. It is a common problem for men who have diabetes — but it's not inevitable.

A recent local study published in 2019 found that more than 80% of the 400 men interviewed had some degree of ED. What's more worrying is that more than a third of them reported severe form of ED.

Men with diabetes are at twice the risk of developing ED and onset may be 10 to 15 earlier than their healthy counterpart.

At times, difficulty maintaining an erection might even precede the diagnosis of diabetes.

The causes of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes are complex and involve damage to nerve, blood vessel, and muscle function caused by poor long-term blood sugar control.

Having ED can be a real challenge. It can leave you and your partner feeling frustrated and discouraged.

However, many men are reluctant to discuss or seek medical attention. But don't let embarrassment keep you from getting help. One small conversation can make a big difference.

There are few things you can do to improve the situation. Some of them improves both ED and diabetes simultaneously.

One, stop smoking. This is because smoking narrows your blood vessels on top of the damage done by diabetes.

Next is to lose some weight. If you are overweight and obese, it is beneficial for you to shed off that extra weight especially body fat.

Monitor your waist circumference. This will help with diabetes control as well as improving ED.

Start to exercise, include it in your daily routine. Increased physical activities can help with both conditions through a number of ways, by reducing stress, helping you lose weight and increasing blood flow.

Last but not least, limit or stop alcohol intake. Excess alcohol results in ED and also affect diabetes control. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.

Don't underestimate the difference a few changes can make. Take steps to cope with ED and diabetes — and get your sex life back on track.

Don't be shy to discuss about it with your physicians. If you are not sure how manage your diet, please consult your dietitian for the medical nutrition therapy advice.

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a step, start by taking control of your lifestyle and blood sugar level.

Reference:

1. Nordin et. al. (2019). Prevalence and predictors of erectile dysfunction in adult male outpatient clinic attendees in Johor, Malaysia. Singapore Medical Journal, 60(1), 40-47.

2. S Shiferaw et. al. (2020). Risk factors of erectile dysfunction among diabetes patients in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Transl Endocrinol, 21, 100232.

3. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Erectile dysfunction and diabetes.

(Dr Lye Chuan Way and A/Prof Dr Hazreen Abdul Majid, Department of Public Health, UMMC and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.)