Diabetes Type 1 Support Group

Hey, well at least your not completely nuts for being afraid that it could be something else or worse! I'm going to go off on a tangent but bear with me here. A lot of people don't realize viagra was originally manufactured for your good old basic clogged arteries. That if you need it especially if you are under the age of 40 you could have coronary heart disease as well. Basically it helps increase the blood flow which help to "pump" you up so to speak.

Now I know you didn't mention viagra at all but the symptoms are kind of the same as to what it's marketed for which makes me ask - besides the glucose levels how are your cholesterol's, triglycerides, etc. doing? As diabetics we are unfortunately at more risk for heart disease.

It may just be worth a check to see if you can't have a stress test done just to make certain the ticker is doing good enough for all the fun! Besides that ironically I have found for my family that cardiologists seem to know a lot about how the "fun stick" works as the drugs they prescribe seem to either help or totally hinder it's function. Good luck and keep working on those sugar levels even if it's not for baby making!

First of all, thanks for the info. Let me put a little extra perspective on this. My wife and I were very busy for the last 2 years with work and school which made intimacy an unfortunate rarity at the time. Up until about 5 months ago we started to get back "in the groove" so to speak (following me graduating and getting a steady schedule). Things have been fine up until recently. I'm not sure if what I just wrote is significant, but I'm trying to approach this from all angles.

Now, I saw my doc about a month ago to get the usual bloodwork and the a1c was at a low 8 (which is normal for me, and I know it is not great), and the cholesterol and tri-g levels were normal (also as usual). I'm thinking (and hoping) my ticker is working well. Blood pressure is normal as well. I also quit smoking not too long ago and my drinking has decreased as well (I live in wisconsin, its unfortunately a drinking culture here).

I would be more than happy to take viagra or any other medication to help regulate this, but part of me still thinks that only having diabetes for 11 years isn't enough to do this to me.

Being a girl I am not an expert on ED, but my advice would be to contact the helpline of a diabetes charity. They can give you good advice and tell you where to get help. This is the information provided by Diabetes UK:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/en/Guid...

I know what you are going through. I have been diabetic for almost 20 years myself and have had the same issues. My control was never in check, my numbers were off the wall and I had issues as well. The best advice I can give is to talk to someone about it. It could be your PCP, Endocrinologist, or even a fertility clinic. There are many advances in ED nowadays, and information is everywhere you look....not counting those silly popup ads, and junk emails. Plus since you mentioned your BP and cholesterol is in check, that can only help the cause. My wife and I had issues for a long time while trying to conceive, and finally gave IVF a shot which worked and now have a beautiful boy who is 13 months.

Due to my poor control for so long, it led to high BP, and even high cholesterol. I actually am recovering from a quaruple bypass which I had last week. The hospital I was at did everything they could to get my numbers under control...and they finally did. Now my numbers are great, and I am doing everything I can to make sure it stays that way.

Don't get discouraged....the best thing you can do is get control of your diabetes. The saddest thing is to not do anything... Good luck!

Darkknight1, thanks for the support on the issue! Congrats on the 13 month old and I hope your recovery is going well. I actually contacted my doctor after I made the initial post and he started me on altace, a drug usually known for blood pressure regulation, but in this case it is used as a preventative measure to preserve kidneys (mine are fine as well, thank god). He also recommended I try 81mg aspirin daily so I've been doing that as well. Now I don't know these drugs are having an immediate or significant impact, but things sexually have been... much better. I honestly wonder if I'm just being too psyhoanalytic on myself and it has been affecting my libido (I.e. freaking out before sex that it might not work). Conspiracy theories aside, I know I still need to get the diabetes itself in check. Here's to keeping things on the up (literally)!

Glad to hear everything is going well. I forgot to mention an 81mg baby aspirin ( I take that as well)....it's is normally used as a blood thinner to protect the heart. I have been on it for a year or so now....despite my bypass. Well like I said, the best thing to do is get control and always try to think of new ways to regulate the diabetes. It is never to late to start fresh and have a 2nd chance....believe me, I speak from experience.