Men with diabetes, a condition where the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is raised, are particularly prone to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and is the type generally found in people over 40. With this condition, people are still able to produce insulin (the essential hormone that controls your blood glucose level), but they do so inefficiently. Type 2 diabetes is usually treated by lowering the blood sugar with dietary changes and oral tablets, although occasionally injections may also be used.

Type 1 diabetes is more common in younger people. Type 1 diabetes is due to a lack of insulin production, and always needs to be treated with insulin injections.

ED as a complication of long-standing diabetes is common to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This is due to a number of reasons:

• Diabetes can damage the nerves in the penis. Damage to the nerves, known as neuropathy, may mean that there is less sensation in the penis and less signalling to it from the brain. This can make it more difficult to get and maintain an erection.
• Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in the penis. Damage to the blood vessels may prevent the erectile tissues from filling with blood to get and maintain an erection.

These kinds of complications are more likely if you are diabetic, aren't controlling your blood sugar properly, and you also smoke. It is important to gain good control of your blood sugar by taking the optimal diabetes treatment for you, and stopping smoking is always a good idea. Please speak to your doctor to find out more.

Men with diabetes are also more prone to high blood pressure, and some of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure could be responsible for causing ED.

Many people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight, and may only have mild symptoms (such as thirst and the desire to pass urine more often) for years before their diabetes is even noticed. Unfortunately, having mild symptoms does not mean that the diabetes isn't causing damage to the nerves and blood vessels. A high proportion of people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes already show problems, such as ED, so it is important to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

If you have diabetes and feel that it has caused problems with your sex life, you should discuss it with your doctor. They will be able to check to see if there are problems with your nervous system or blood vessels that need to be treated. There is no reason why diabetes should stop your sex life. Recognising and talking about the issue is the first step.