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10. Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Studies reveal that 35-75% of diabetic men will have some degree of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime. It is also known that diabetic men will develop ED 10-15 years earlier compared with men without diabetes.
In order to have an erection, a man needs healthy nerves, blood vessels, hormones and the desire to have sex. Diabetes can affect the nerves and the blood vessels that control erection. Thus, even if the diabetic man has normal sexual desire and healthy levels of testosterone, he may not be able to achieve erection because of the nerve and blood vessel damage. In addition, some drugs (i.e. prescribed heart diseases, depression, and anti-inflammatory) can also impair the ability to become erect.
Resources
Merck Manual (Diabetes Mellitus)Mayo Clinic (Diabetes)WebMD (Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes)
Whether you are looking to eat more plant-based foods or need to give up dairy for health reasons, here's a list of dairy alternatives to add to your diet.
