Understanding and Managing Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes

Diabetes can put a strain on all aspects of your life, and even more so your sex life. This is because diabetes and high blood pressure normally go hand-in-hand. When a man has high blood pressure, vessels and nerves that are supposed to react and respond to blood flow suffer damage. When this damage occurs it affects his ability to get an erection. There are ways to prevent this kind of damage, and help maintain a healthy sex life with diabetes if great care is taken.

Diet

• When you're diabetic, what you eat to maintain healthy blood sugar levels is very important. This is equally important to steer away from diabetes-related impotence. Before engaging in sexual intercourse, it's best to test your blood, and if needed, have a snack or small meal before the activity. It is also a good idea to eat after sex, as strenuous sexual activity can drain your blood of sugar, exhausting you and inviting later bouts of impotence. Some foods to eat for maintaining your blood sugar are bananas, oranges, and other fruits and vegetables.

Medication

• Sometimes it's necessary to go on anti-impotence medications, to be able to enjoy a healthy sex life, and doctors constantly are working on different ways to combat the problem. There are many aids on the market such as Viagra, which is very popular with men who suffer from impotence and erectile dysfunction. However, if one has a bad heart, it is best to avoid this medication. Other products, such as Enzyte and Vigi-Plus, claim to be all natural, and even have shown positive results in avoiding erectile dysfunction.