NEW DELHI: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a known effect of diabetes in men but patients often keep quiet on this aspect. In a survey conducted recently by a top private hospital involving 220 diabetics and 50 non-diabetics between the age group of 18-65, it has been found that 79% such men feel some degree of erectile dysfunction. In the non-diabetic population of the same age group, the prevalence of this dysfunction wasn’t low either. It was found to be 46%.
Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant, department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, who led the study, said one of the interesting findings of their study was that longer the duration of diabetes, more was the risk of ED. “Among patients with diabetes for less than five years, 43.6 % had ED with only 3.6 % having severe ED. In patients with diabetes for 6-10 years, 83 % had ED with 10.9 % having severe ED. In patients with diabetes duration of more than 10 years, 78.6 % had ED with 16.4 % having severe ED,” he said.
ED is often distressing and an embarrassing condition not just for the men but also for their sexual partners. It has a negative impact on psychological well-being and leads to marital disharmony, said Dr M Sondhi, another researcher who participated in the study. “Patients need to report such symptoms early for effective management,” the doctors said.
