Diabetes is one of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction (ED). Diabetes increases your likelihood of experiencing ED by 2-3 times and diabetics often experience ED 10-15 years earlier than others. In diabetes, the body is unable to effectively regulate blood sugar levels. This causes high levels of blood sugar over a prolonged period. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, including those found in the penis. During an erection, the penis fills with blood, so damage to these blood vessels can result in erectile dysfunction.
Controlling your blood sugar levels is the best way to prevent diabetes-related erectile dysfunction. This reduces your blood sugar, and therefore reduces the damage that would be caused to the blood vessels supplying the penis.
Erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra (Sildenafil), Levitra and Cialis, can help people with diabetes who are already suffering from erectile dysfunction. These treatments primarily work by dilating the blood vessels and increasing the blood flow to the penis.
See our full range of ED treatments.