The August, 2002 issue of the Journal of Diabetes Care reports new research led by Dr. Constance Bacon of Harvard School of Public Health. Her team of researchers suggest that the longer a man has had type 2 diabetes, the greater his chances of erectile dysfunction. Their conclusions are based on data from more than 30,000 men, aged 53 to 90.
Men with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes were nearly twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED) as non-diabetic men. Among men with type 2 diabetes, ED risk rose with the duration of the diabetes. And overall, ED was more prevalent among men with type 1 diabetes (61.8%) than with type 2 diabetes (45.2%). Also important to note: men with both diabetes and heart disease or high blood pressure were most likely to have ED.
What can you do?
You can speak to your healthcare provider or Walgreens pharmacist about the new medications now available for ED. Another option is a mechanical vacuum device that causes an erection by creating a partial vacuum around the penis, which draws blood into the penis, engorging it and expanding it. The devices have three components: a plastic cylinder, in which the penis is placed; a pump, which draws air out of the cylinder; and an elastic band, which is placed around the base of the penis, to maintain the erection after the cylinder is removed and during intercourse by preventing blood from flowing back into the body. One variation on the vacuum device option is a product available without a prescription at Walgreens pharmacy: a semi-rigid rubber sheath that is placed on the penis and remains there after achieving an erection and during intercourse.
