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Suddenly running into issues with your performance between the sheets?

Rest assured, you’re not alone. Erectile troubles impact over 30 million men across the country. These issues can be caused by a variety of underlying factors, including age, medications, low testosterone, mental health, and certain medical conditions. There’s a lot that can mess with your performance. 

For men living with diabetes mellitus, the deck may be stacked slightly more against you. In fact, men with the condition are 3.5 times more likely to deal with erectile struggles than their healthier counterparts. 

Below, we’ll provide insights into how diabetes impacts erectile function and offer guidance on how to achieve a more satisfying sex life through safe, simple, and discreet erection-enhancing medications offered by BlueChew.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that disrupts blood sugar regulation in the body. But not all diabetes is the same. Here’s a quick summary of the highlights of the differences between the two conditions: 

Type 1 Diabetes

• What it is: An autoimmune condition where the body destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that tells the body’s cells to absorb sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream to create energy for the body to use. Research has demonstrated that specific genes can put an individual at higher risk of developing the disorder. 
• Who gets it: It usually starts young and persists throughout a person’s lifetime. 
• The issue: When the cells of the pancreas are destroyed, individuals do not produce insulin, resulting in chronically elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream (hyperglycemia). These individuals need injections of insulin to help the cells absorb glucose.
• Why it matters for erections: High blood sugar = nerve and blood vessel damage, two common causes of erectile problems. 

Type 2 Diabetes 

• What it is: An acquired condition caused by insulin resistance – when your body makes insulin, but the cells of the body stop responding to it. 
• Who gets it: Typically develops later in life and is often tied to poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. Sadly, rates of type 2 diabetes are beginning to skyrocket in younger populations due to a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors that can cause the condition to start sooner.  
• The issue: In this case, the pancreas often effectively produces insulin, but the chronically elevated levels can make the body’s cells resistant to responding to it and absorbing glucose. As the body becomes more resistant to insulin, less glucose will be absorbed, leading to elevated glucose levels in the blood. For others, the pancreas may have difficulty producing enough insulin to keep up with the high demand due to elevated glucose levels. This condition can typically be managed with lifestyle changes and medications. 
• Why it matters for erections: Just like in type 1 diabetes, chronically high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes damage blood vessels and nerves leading to erectile issues. 

The Link Between Diabetes and Erectile Issues

More than 50% of men with diabetes have erectile issues, making it one of the most common diabetes complications. 

Research has demonstrated that the link between diabetes and erectile troubles is due to various factors, including issues with creating the vessel-dilating chemicals essential for healthy erections (nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)), damage to the nerves, and elevated levels of tissue-damaging chemicals known as free radicals. 

For this reason, erectile troubles in men with diabetes are often more severe and can be harder to treat.  

Not to mention, men with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure, leading causes of erectile issues.

Understanding Erectile Issues: Causes and Solutions

How Does Diabetes Affect Sexual Function?

Understanding how diabetes increases the risk of erectile troubles involves grasping the science behind erections. 

Achieving an erection isn’t just about being in the mood—it’s a team effort between your brain, nerves, blood vessels, and some pretty interesting body chemistry. Here’s how it works:

1. It all starts with sexual stimulation (physical, mental, or both).
2. Your brain and nerves send signals that trigger the release of special chemicals, like NO and cGMP.
3. These chemicals relax and dilate your blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow into your penis. This increased blood flow fills two spongy chambers in your penis (the corpora cavernosa), causing it to harden and rise to the occasion.

When all systems are ‘go,’ the result is an erection. 

Unfortunately, diabetes can throw a wrench in this process because it messes with both the plumbing (blood flow) and the wiring (nerves) of your system, making it tough to get or maintain an erection. Here’s how:

• Damaged Blood Vessels: High blood sugar can harm the arteries that carry blood to your penis—less blood flow = weaker erections.
• Increased inflammation: Research has found that diabetes increases reactive oxygen species, which drive inflammation in the body, damaging nerves and vessels and hindering erections.
• Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Diabetes can damage the nerves responsible for sending the “let’s get it on” signals from your brain to your penis.
• High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol: These common companions of diabetes can narrow blood vessels, further reducing blood flow.
• Heart Disease & Sleep Apnea: Both conditions, often linked to diabetes, can disrupt blood circulation and oxygen levels—key factors in sexual performance.

When diabetes wreaks havoc on your blood vessels and nerves, it’s common to experience erections that are weaker, less reliable, or absent altogether.

How To Improve Erections If You Have Diabetes

The great news? There are plenty of ways to reclaim your bedroom confidence, even with diabetes.

Research highlights several effective strategies, including keeping your blood sugar in check, adopting healthier lifestyle habits, addressing diabetes-related conditions that impact erection quality, and reviewing your medications for potential side effects. 

With the right approach, you can boost both your sexual health and overall well-being.

Stabilize Your Blood Sugar

Managing your blood sugar isn’t just essential for keeping your diabetes in check—it’s also a major player in boosting your erections.

Research backs this up. A 2016 study found that men with type 2 diabetes who struggled with glycemic control (AKA not keeping blood sugar levels in range) faced a higher risk of erection troubles. Similarly, a 2009 study revealed that men with lower HbA1C levels—a measure of average blood sugar over two to three months—reported fewer erectile issues compared to those with higher levels.

Translation: staying on top of your insulin or prescribed diabetes medications doesn’t just help your overall health—it’s also a key step toward improving your performance in the bedroom.

Managing your blood sugar is the key to getting both your diabetes under control and enhancing your erections. 

Practice Healthy Habits

Lifestyle changes can make or break your diabetes management and erectile function. To optimize your health, follow these three proven tips:

1. Lose weight

Reducing body weight has been recommended as the first-line treatment for improving erectile function in men with diabetes.

A 2010 study found that men with diabetes and erectile issues who followed intensive lifestyle changes—like prioritizing weight loss—had better improvements in erectile function compared to men who only received diabetes education. This means actually putting in the work on lifestyle changes pays off.

2. Eat a healthy diet

What’s on your plate matters in the bedroom. 

A balanced diet packed with lean meats, fish, and plenty of vegetables can help improve sexual function. In fact, research has shown men with type 2 diabetes who stuck with the Mediterranean diet were less likely to run into erectile issues.

3. Increase exercise

Regular exercise is a game-changer for improving erections, especially in men with diabetes. 

Studies show it boosts nitric oxide (NO) levels, which relax blood vessels and increase blood flow—key for healthy erections. Research in diabetic animals demonstrated that treadmill workouts improved sexual function by enhancing NO and activating nerve pathways.

In humans, a study of 460 Japanese men with type 2 diabetes found that those with the highest activity levels had up to a 58% lower risk of severe erectile troubles compared to the least active. Even simple habits like regular walking showed significant benefits.

The bottom line? Get moving. Walking, jogging, or going to the gym helps keep blood flowing and enhances erections.

4. Stop smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for erection issues, especially in men with diabetes. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of running into sexual performance problems.

A study of nearly 10,000 diabetic men found smokers were 40% more likely to have erection troubles compared to non-smokers, and the longer they smoked, the worse it got. However, there’s hope—ex-smokers saw their risk drop significantly over time after quitting.

And, fortunately, another study found the benefits of quitting smoking can start almost immediately, with men experiencing improved nocturnal erections in just 24 hours, with continued improvement over a month—even when using nicotine patches.

Manage Health Conditions Caused By Diabetes

Diabetes increases your risk of health issues like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and low testosterone (hypogonadism)—all of which can contribute to erection problems.

To stay on top of these risks, it’s essential to have a medical team monitor your condition. Regular check-ups can help track cholesterol, blood pressure, and testosterone levels. 

By sticking to treatment plans for these health conditions, you’ll not only improve your overall health but may also give your erections a boost.

Reevaluate Your Medications

Certain medications prescribed for diabetes care or related health conditions, like high blood pressure and depression, may contribute to erectile issues. Common culprits include:

• Blood sugar-lowering medications such as Metformin and Semaglutide.
• Antidepressants, especially SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft.
• High blood pressure medications, including Tenormin, Lasix, Esidrix, and Lopressor.

If you suspect your medication is affecting your erections, discuss alternatives with your doctor. They may adjust your prescription to something more erection-friendly. However, never change or stop your medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

Consider Erection-Enhancing Medications

Research has shown that men with diabetes often see the best results when they combine the previously mentioned options with prescription erection-enhancing medications like Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis), and Vardenafil (Levitra). These medications are proven to improve erectile function in men with diabetes.

These medications belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which work by increasing the levels of vessel dilating NO and cGMP enhancing blood flow to the penis. In doing so, this extra dilation can thwart some of the circulation issues diabetes can cause. 

Online telehealth services like BlueChew provide easy access to these medications without the hassle of in-person doctor visits or waiting in line at the drug store. Our streamlined, fully online service makes getting a prescription for erection enhancement simple and discreet.

Interested in learning more about the available options at BlueChew? Click here.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the deal: diabetes might make getting rock-hard erections trickier, but it’s not a death sentence for your sex life. 

With better blood sugar management, lifestyle tweaks, and prescription erection-enhancing treatments (enter, BlueChew), you can absolutely take back control of your bedroom performance.

Try eating that Mediterranean diet, getting your extra jog in, and popping that BlueChew to get ahead of any erection-issues. Life’s too short for anything other than amazing sex.

How To Get Erection-Enhancing Medications Through BlueChew 

Interested in a prescription for an erection-enhancing medication? BlueChew has got you covered.

Visit BlueChew.com, select a plan, complete an online patient intake, and you’re done. A licensed medical professional will review your information and, if appropriate, prescribe your plan to be shipped directly to your door.

No in-person doctor appointments or patient support charges make it a stress-free experience.

With plans starting as low as $25 per month, BlueChew can fit into anyone’s budget. Plus, there’s no commitment—you can easily cancel or switch plans anytime.


Click here to explore all plan options at BlueChew.

FAQS

Can diabetes cause erectile issues?

Yes, diabetes can damage crucial blood vessels and nerves, which are essential for getting and maintaining an erection.

What lifestyle changes can improve my erections if I have diabetes?

Managing blood sugar levels, losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and quitting smoking can help improve erectile function.

Do medications for diabetes affect erections?

Some diabetes medications, as well as medications for high blood pressure or depression, can contribute to erectile issues. It’s important to discuss your diabetes care plan with your doctor to ensure nothing else is contributing to your erection troubles.

How do the erection-enhancing medications from BlueChew work?

The medications offered by BlueChew contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name FDA-approved erection-enhancing medications Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. These medications belong to a class of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors, which work by improving blood flow to the penis by relaxing blood vessels. The dilatory effects of these medications can help counteract circulation problems caused by diabetes to enhance erections. 

BlueChew offers compounded medications, available in a chewable formulation. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are custom-made by state-licensed compounding pharmacies for specific patient needs (such as chewable tablets for patients with difficulty swallowing pills) or when commercially available medications are not tolerated.

Is BlueChew a good option for men with diabetes?

Yes. BlueChew offers easy access to a variety of erectile-enhancing medications at differing dosages. These medicines can help improve erections for men with diabetes, and many find that taking them is an effective solution for improving their bedroom performance. Before starting any new medications, it is crucial to speak to your doctor to ensure erectile enhancement is safe for you.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content provided here is not a substitute for, and should never be relied upon as, professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor to discuss the risks, benefits, and appropriateness of any treatment. BlueChew offers compounded medications prescribed solely for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and sexual performance enhancement. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

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