Diabetes can wreak havoc on your whole body. The dangerously high blood sugar levels that characterise diabetes can damage the nerves connecting to different areas of your body – causing problems like numbness. This happens because the blood vessels supplying your nerves are damaged.
Your sexual organs are also at risk of neuropathy, which can cause a loss of sensation.
High blood sugar levels can also damage the blood vessels leading to your sexual organs.
It can decrease the elasticity of the blood vessels, making them narrower.
According to Diabetes.co.uk, “if this happens, it means that you’ll have less blood flow into these areas. This can result in you losing some feeling to your genitals”.
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One study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, showed that roughly 82.5 percent of people experienced “at least one sexual dysfunction”. This includes men and women.
Erectile dysfunction – whereby men struggle to get or keep an erection enough for sex – is common in men with diabetes.
Women, on the other hand, can be affected by “deficient vaginal lubrication”, according to another study.
Although some people may experience the sudden onset of sexual dysfunction, other symptoms may be slow to develop.
Many people struggle with type 2 diabetes for years without realising.
Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand can come on quickly over weeks or even days, and cause noticeable symptoms, according to WebMD.
