‘10 pc rise in number of Diabetics losing interest in sex life’

Hyderabad: Doctors at Amor Hospitals, a multi-specialty healthcare facility in the city, on Wednesday stated that there is at least 10 percent rise in the number of diabetics who are losing interest in sex life, since the start of 2020.

Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown resulted in sedentary lifestyles which have led to rise in the number of diabetics in the country, and this has a direct impact on the sexual health of some of these men and women, the Doctors said in a release here.

Diabetes, a chronic disease which affects in the Indian population much earlier than our western counterparts, leads to various complications including sexual dysfunction which can lead to reduction in patient’s quality of life.

It remains one of the lesser known side effects of Diabetes. The incidence of erectile dysfunction in men suffering from diabetes is almost three times more than the general population. This can potentially affect various areas of life ranging from physical complications to psychological imbalance, the doctors said.

It is expected that India will have 145 million people suffering from diabetes by 2045 while diabetes is seen as the leading cause of heart diseases, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and even resulting into amputation of limbs in certain cases; its impact on the sexual health of men and women is not a topic often spoken about, they said.

Commenting on the impact, Dr. Udai Lal, Chief Consultant – Internal Medicine, Amor Hospitals said, it is a well-known fact that testosterone is a sex hormone that regulates certain processes in the human body, including fertility, sex drive, bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, and red blood cell production.

Certain researchers have found a linkage between rising diabetes levels and its adverse effect on testosterone levels.

Since the start of 2020, we have witnessed a 10 per cent rise in the number of young adults complaining of losing interest in sexual activities, and many of these are found to be suffering from uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

Diabetes can lead to increase in sexual dysfunction by damaging certain nerves and blood vessels,” Dr Lal added. (UNI)