The number of diabetic patients is increasing every year. Recent studies show that more than a half of men with diabetes experience a variety of sexual dysfunction. The most common of them is erectile dysfunction (ED).
ED is a typical complication of diabetes, which leads to a significant deterioration in the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, the modern medicine attaches a great importance to search of effective erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics.
Choice of means and methods for ED treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus depends on particular clinical situation. ED treatment should be comprehensive and pathogenetic (aimed at the root cause).
Effective methods of erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics may include:
- Oral medicines (tablets, capsules)
- Intraurethral therapy (liquid dosage forms)
- Vacuum erection devices (not constriction)
Since the majority of diabetics suffer not only from ED, but also from other diseases (e.g., microangiopathy, diabetic neuropathy), oral forms of treatment are more often used. In particular, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5).
Erectile dysfunction treatment drugs in diabetics include sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis), Avanafil (Stendra) and Vardenafil (Levitra). These drugs have a number of significant advantages:
- Easy to use;
- Convenient dosage;
- Safe in all age groups of patients with diabetes;
- Long-term use.
Effectiveness of oral erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics has been studied in numerous clinical studies. The results confirmed improvement of erectile function and positive effect of PDE5 inhibitors on spermatogenesis.
The mechanism of action of all PDE-5 inhibitors is the same; they enhance relaxing effect of the nitric oxide and increase blood flow to the penis in sufficient sexual stimulation. Herewith, PDE-5 inhibitors do not have a direct relaxing effect on the cavernous body.
The first representative of PDE5 inhibitors is Sildenafil. Studies have shown that Sildenafil may improve erections even in inadequate glycemic control and availability of several chronic complications of diabetes.
However, diabetics especially with severe form of ED can be not satisfied with this cure, since effect of Sildenafil largely depends on food and alcohol. This in turn creates certain difficulties with planning of sexual intercourse.
Such PDE-5 inhibitors as Tadalafil, Vardenafil and Avanafil for ED treatment have become available later. Unlike Sildenafil, these drugs have a longer half-life (17.5 to 36h) and their pharmacokinetics does not depend on alcohol and food intake.
Since diabetics often suffer from cardiovascular diseases (such as hypertension, coronary heart disease), these erectile dysfunction cures may not be appropriate.
In these cases, erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics can be carried out by dosage forms for intraurethral administration. Alprostadil (Muse) drug is prescribed to patients with diabetes mellitus with extra caution.
Since, pain threshold is generally lowered in these patients; administration of this drug can lead to closed injuries and urethra lesions.
it is worth noting erectile dysfunction cure by means of vasoactive drugs for intracavernous therapy (Alprostadil – Caverject, Edex, Papaverine, and Phentolamine).
These erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics are not recommended, since frequency of microbleeds with further development of the penis fibrosis is high in such patients.
Non-drug methods of ED treatment include mechanical devices that help achieve an erection (venous constriction devices, vacuum constriction devices). These devices are used in the cases if diabetics cannot use drug treatment or it does not provide the desired effect.
The main advantage of vacuum systems lies in the lack of side effects even in their prolonged use. An erection created in this way is non-physiological, but efficiency of these devices can be up to 90%.
So, what erectile dysfunction cures for diabetics are the best? The answer is quite difficult, because it depends on many factors, including the patient’s state of health and his ability to tolerate the treatment.
Erection problems associated with diabetic pathology affect many men, but most patients return to a satisfying sex life when adhering to the medical recommendations.