Monday, June 04, 2012
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 GO TITANS asks

Q: 47 year old diabetic struggling with ED

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a little over 20 years ago.  Blood sugar control has been not been very good the last year (last A1c test was a whopping 12.1%).  I quit smoking after nearly 30 years of over a pack/day.  When first diagnosed with ED(about 6 years ago), even the minimum dosage of Viagra was sufficient for quality erections.  I was very happy with the results.  My endocrinologist suggested Cialis as the side effects of Viagra (heartburn, stuffy head, headaches) were enough to discontinue use.  Once again, I was pleased with the results and less side effects combined with a more flexible medication that offered longer efficacy with the no rushing of "let's hurry up and do it".  Over the past 2 years of use, I've had less success with both the use of both Cialis and Viagra as erections have been less than satisfactory.  I even tried a combination of 20 mg of Cialis several hours before and 100 mg of Viagra about 1 hour prior to sex with only "fair" results.  This has become so frustrating that it has resulted in the loss of my relationship with my girlfriend and I don't want to subject this to any future woman.  Would a Urologist be better qualified than my Endocrinologist to both make a diagnosis and, suggest treatment(s)?   Is it possuible that my ED symptoms will improve with cardiovascular improvement? Please help.

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healthgal, Health Pro
10/ 3/08 4:14pm

yes, i would consult with a urologist as well.  the harsh reality is also that heart disease and diabetes are linked and any compromise of your arterial system due to plaque could also be progressing in the area of your genitalia so I would highly recommend working on your diet and removing processed high sugar/sodium foods, reduce trans fat and saturated fat in your diet, eat more fruits/veggies, go fat free on all dairy products, eat less animal based proteins and more fish and beans/legumes AND get moving - meaning adopt an exercise program that includes aerobic exercise and weight training exercise.  the lifestyle changes, given time, can help your diabetes and improve your cholesterol/heart risk profile and ultimately help with the ED.

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By GO TITANS— Last Modified: 12/15/10, First Published: 09/30/08