diabetes also causes lower levels of testosterone

Diabetic men suffer from significantly higher levels of erectile dysfunction and this is mainly due to nerve damage which the condition can bring on. However diabetes also causes lower levels of testosterone which again can impact on the sexual functioning of a man. Research led by Professor Ahmed El-Sakka from the Diabetic and Endocrine Centre at the Al-Noor Specialist Hospital based in Saudi Arabia shows however that diabetic men who have better glycemic control can actually boost their levels of testosterone which in turn boosts their erectile function.

The research focused on almost 160 men with an average age of 54 and they saw that significant increases in the mean testosterone levels were recorded when specific modifications were made to lifestyle and diet along with insulin and hypoglycemic therapy. 

The researchers did point out that even though when they set out to do this research they were not focusing on the effect on libido or erectile function, they could not help but notice the beneficial side effects of good diabetic control with healthy lifestyle changes and how it impacted on "vascular and ophthalmologic disorders". The research which was published in the medical journal Urology should lead to further research projects in this area specifically focusing on the link between good diet for diabetics and testosterone levels and whether any specific treatments for diabetics who suffer from erectile dysfunction can developed.

Many diabetics are obese and this in itself is known to be a contributing factor to erectile dysfunction not only directly but also because obesity is related to our whole lot of other metabolic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and vascular illnesses.

Eating healthy, getting fit and making sure that you stay slim is the best insurance policy you can take out for your future erectile function.