The ED Diabetes Talk

Men with diabetes face many difficulties, but few problems are more frustrating than erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is the inability to maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse and it is known that 1 in 2 men with diabetes has sexual troubles caused by their disease.¹

EDiabetesTalk is here to help you understand this link between ED and Diabetes, to stress the importance of talking to your patients about ED and to provide tips and tools to help aid in that discussion. Our hope is that together, we can help you educate your patients living with diabetes and build awareness of the ED treatment options available to them.

Why is it important to talk to your patients about ED?

1. Discussing ED can help identify hidden issues:

Erectile dysfunction signals possible developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is a warning sign for a future heart attack or stroke.^2,3 ED precedes coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke by 3 years on average.³

2. ED can help motivate many patients to make lifestyle changes:

The desire to prevent ED or improve their symptoms motivates many patients to take better care of their health.

3. Resolving ED can help improve partner support:

It’s not uncommon for the partner of the person experiencing ED to feel rejected or to wonder if their partner is being unfaithful. This can negatively impact a partner’s willingness to support the patient’s efforts to make lifestyle changes, control blood sugars, quit smoking, and improve diet and exercise.

4. Resolving ED can enhance a patient’s quality of life:

ED can negatively impact a man’s self-esteem and his most important relationships. Erectile dysfunction often co-exists with depression. Whether depression or erectile dysfunction comes first, they often occur together and can negatively impact both the man and his partner.⁴ ED can be difficult for couples to talk about, but finding a solution may have a positive impact on the relationship and help improve the patient’s overall outlook on life.