Diabetic men are THREE times more likely to get erectile dysfunction

Diabetic men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED).

In fact having high blood sugar really impacts your ability to get hard, because guys with this condition have triple the risk of penis problems.

New research, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, looked into the link after reviewing the cases of 88,000 men who took part in 145 studies, with an average age of 56 years old.

Researchers found that lads with diabetes are three times more likely to have ED, compared to healthy guys.

What’s more 59% of men with diabetes also suffered from erectile issues.

Diabetic guys are also more likely to develop ED earlier, on average 10 to 15 years before healthy men.

But what’s the link between diabetes and erectile dysfunction?

Sean Skeldon, M.D., told Men’s Health that diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves – and both are crucial for a healthy todger.

The penis issue, which can be psychological or physical, can also be linked with fatigue, stress, anxiety or depression.

Guys with ED have a 70% higher risk of premature death, according to a recent study by The University of Mississippi.

Being unable to get hard is often a sign that your heart isn’t very healthy because poor cardiovascular health is the most common cause of ED.

Sometimes it’s also a symptom of health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Worryingly lots of guys who have poor heart health and ED can end up having life-threatening cardiovascular problems like heart attacks.

The blood vessels in your penis are very small, only one or two millimetres in diameter, meaning they can easily get blocked by plaque caused by factors like a poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, age or genetics.

Blocked vessels mean the blood can’t flow to the penis making erections impossible.

But worse yet the build up of plaque can affect arteries that carry blood to your heart leading to shocking consequences like heart attack and death.

Dr Pixie McKenna told Daily Star Online: “Your ED could be a symptom of an underlying medical issue that is yet to be diagnosed.

“If you already have a diagnosis of heart disease or diabetes make sure it is being optimally managed.

“If you haven't had a health check for a while then book in for a screen. They are free through the NHS to the over 40s.”

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter