What is the link between diabetes and erectile dysfunction?
Diabetes is a common condition with which you can live a normal life, but which can also be very serious. It can have a major impact on your overall health and lead to secondary and tertiary conditions such as erectile dysfunction (impotence).
Fortunately, there are many ways to treat diabetes, ranging from oral medications to lifestyle changes. Read on to learn 비아그라 판매 about the connection between diabetes and erectile dysfunction, and discover how best to treat them individually and together.
How does an erection work?
An erection is the direct result of increased blood flow to the penis. Inside the penis is an artery called the cavernous artery or penile artery. It runs all the way up the shaft of the penis and divides into two separate tube-like chambers.
When you get excited, your brain sends signals to your body that then pump blood to these chambers and make your penis hard. A membrane then holds the blood in place.
After you ejaculate, your body will produce an enzyme called PDE-5. This enzyme breaks down the erection and the blood is withdrawn.
How can poor circulation affect erectile function?
There are various causes of erectile dysfunction, which can come from both psychological and physical conditions. But most often the cause is vascular. Good blood flow is important for erections. Any blockages or narrowings in the arteries can prevent enough blood from reaching the penile artery and filling the corpora cavernosa.
Anatomy of erect penis
How does diabetes affect circulation?
At the back of the stomach is a gland called the pancreas. This organ produces a hormone called insulin, which is important for how your body regulates "energy".
When you eat, your digestive system converts carbohydrates into sugar (or glucose). These sugars pass into your blood, which is why we often talk about "blood sugar levels." Blood glucose is used as energy by all the cells in your body so that they can carry out their specific tasks. But in order for the glucose to be absorbed by cells in the body, the insulin must signal this to your cells. Where there is excess sugar in your blood, insulin is also responsible for storing the remains in your liver.
If you have diabetes , your pancreas cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin. In some cases, you may not produce any insulin at all. The importance of this hormone's role in energy conversion/metabolism can be seen in some of the symptoms of diabetes, such as weight loss and fatigue.
If you have uncontrolled high blood sugar, your blood vessels can be damaged. This happens when too much glucose reduces levels of important nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, which means it keeps your blood vessels dilated. Restricted blood vessels mean that blood cannot move as freely through the body. One consequence of the obstructed blood flow is difficulty getting an erection - good arterial health is necessary to pump blood to the penis.
Symptoms of diabetes related to circulation also include numbness in the fingers and toes, wounds that take longer to heal, and increased susceptibility to infections.