People with diabetes may experience a lower sex drive, dry orgasm, erectile dysfunction, and less arousal. Some lifestyle changes and medications could help you manage your sex life.

Healthy sexuality and sexual expression may be important for maintaining quality of life, no matter what problems you may be facing.

However, some health conditions like diabetes may affect several aspects of your sexual health. According to Diabetes UK, 1 in 3 people with diabetes experience some form of sexual problem.

Keep reading to learn more about how diabetes may affect your sex life and how you can manage it.

A common sexual health issue in diabetes is a decrease in libido, which refers to your sex drive.

This may be frustrating if you had a high libido and active sex life before receiving a diabetes diagnosis.

Experts haven’t identified the exact causes of low libido associated with diabetes. However, there may be physical and psychological factors that can increase the riskTrusted Source, including:

Another common complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause numbness, pain, or a lack of feeling. Sometimes, this could affect the genitals, which may cause:

  • erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • premature ejaculation
  • decreased sexual arousal
  • decreased stimulation, or feeling
  • increased pain during sexual activities

Language matters

We use “women” and “men” in this article to reflect the terms that have been historically used to gender people. However, your gender identity may not align with how your body may respond to diabetes.

A doctor can better help you understand your risk for diabetes and how to manage certain symptoms or complications if you develop the condition.

The most widely reported sexual health issue for men with diabetes is ED.

Men with diabetes are 3.5 timesTrusted Source more likely to develop ED than those without ED. Some cases of diabetes are also first diagnosed when a person seeks treatment for ED.

ED may be caused by the damaging effects high glucose levels have on nerves, muscles, or vascular structures.

People with diabetes may also haveTrusted Source lower testosterone levels, which is associated with lower libido and ED. Other common risk factors that accompany diabetes may also contribute to ED, including:

Ejaculation problems

Diabetes may also cause ejaculation dysfunctions in people with diabetes, includingTrusted Source:

Ejaculation problems may be caused by your internal sphincter muscles not working properly. These muscles are responsible for opening and closing passages in the body. Chronic high glucose levels can result in nerve damage to the sphincter muscles.

Less researchTrusted Source has examined the effects of diabetes in women, but experts suggest that the condition may causeTrusted Source:

A small 2022 studyTrusted Source found that females with type 1 diabetes were almost two times more likely to have sexual issues compared to those with type 2 diabetes.

Sexual problems that occur with diabetes may be frustrating and cause anxiety. You may feel that giving up on sexual expression is easier than finding ways to cope or adjust.

Following your diabetes treatment plan and managing your blood sugar levels is key to getting your sex life back on track. Some lifestyle changes and medication could also help you maintain an active sex life.

For instance, consider having sex at a time of day when your energy levels are at their highest, such as in the morning.

Using lubricants could help manage vaginal dryness, while hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may help manage low libido and ED.

The American Diabetes Association also recommends trying the following lifestyle tips to manage sexual problems associated with diabetes:

Communicate with others

Communication between partners about any sexual issues is important. A lack of communication may harm the sexual and intimate side of a relationship.

If you experience negative feelings about your sexual health and diabetes, it may seem easier to avoid discussing the issue rather than seeking a solution.

However, being open and speaking with others can help you release negative feelings and develop a management plan together.

Consider other ways to express sexual desire to help build intimacy and connection, such as:

It’s also important to make time to enjoy each other’s company without being focused on caregiving. For example, have a date night where the topic of diabetes is off-limits.

Learn more about how to speak to a partner about sex.

Discuss sexual health issues with a healthcare professional. Sexual dysfunction may be a sign of disease progression, or that treatment isn’t working.

Consider asking about the possible sexual side effects of medications.

A doctor may prescribe a different medication to prevent sexual side effects or recommend treatments for specific sexual dysfunctions, such as ED.

Sex may be beneficial for diabetes because it’s a form of exercise, according to Diabetes UK. As such, it could help you manage insulin and stress levels, which could have a positive effect on your glucose levels.

If you’re using medications that increase insulin in your body, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur during sex. As such, it’s important to check your blood sugar levels before and after engaging in sexual activity.

In some cases, blood sugar may increase after sex due to an increase in the stress hormone adrenaline.

Having a healthy and active sex life is important to your quality of life. Diabetes can make sexual activity more challenging, but it doesn’t mean you have to completely forgo sexual expression.

Managing diabetes and stress and communicating with others could help you manage sexual problems associated with diabetes.

A doctor could also modify your diabetes treatment plan, if necessary.