Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: A melting pot of circumstances and treatments

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose, is among the most common chronic diseases. The incidence and prevalence of DM have been increasing over the years. The complications of DM represent a serious health problem. The long-term complications include macroangiopathy, microangiopathy and neuropathy as well as sexual dysfunction (SD) in both men and women. Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been considered the most important SD in men with DM. The prevalence of ED is approximately 3.5-fold higher in men with DM than in those without DM. Common risk factors for the development of DM and its complications include sedentary lifestyle, overweight/ obesity and increased caloric consumption. Although lifestyle changes may help improve sexual function, specific treatments are often needed. This study aims to review the definition and prevalence of ED in DM, the impact of DM complications and DM treatment on ED and, finally, the current and emerging therapies for ED in patients with DM.

The Role of Antihyperglycemic Drugs and Diet on Erectile Function: Results from a Perspective Study on a Population with Prediabetes and Diabetes

“…Sexual dysfunctions are well recognized as complications of DM, more in males [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] than in females [ 28 , 29 ]. In this study, we evaluated a total of 163 patients with DM or preDM.…”

“…Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the inability to achieve or maintain penile erection sufficient to obtain satisfactory sexual activity [ 1 , 2 , 3 ], can be due to many factors, among which diabetes mellitus (DM) play an important role [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. DM is one of the most common chronic diseases due to impaired carbohydrate metabolism; alongside diet or nutritional supplements [ 8 , 9 ], educational therapy [ 10 ], metformin, sulfonylureas (SU), thiazolinediones (TZD), and insulin therapy, new antihyperglycemic drugs are now widely used for the management of DM, such as dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), glucagon-like peptide-1receptor agonists (GLP-1a), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) [ 11 ].…”

Glycemic control in newly insulin-initiated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A retrospective follow-up study at a university hospital in Ethiopia

“…In long term, uncontrolled hyperglycemia leads to complications of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and microvascular complications like damages of eyes, kidneys and nerves, and finally, leads for death [ 1 ]. In addition to these common macrovascular and microvascular complications, diabetes has been associated with another important complications like cochlear dysfunction [ 6 ], and sexual dysfunction and fracture [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Erectile dysfunction as a marker of endocrine and glycemic disorders

“…On this matter, psychological factors are strictly related to ED and are seldom investigated also in DM patients [ 25 ]. Furthermore, some comorbidities closely associated with diabetes as well as DM complication, such as obesity, hypertension and its pharmacological treatments, atherosclerosis, neuropathy, nephropathy, as well as infections, disease of penile structure and depression could be considered as co-factors for ED [ 10 , 26 ]. This evidence is confirmed by the fact that metabolic disorders are associated with reduced T levels, arteriogenic ED and higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events [ 6 , 23 , 27 ].…”