Is Viagra Pill Safe for Diabetics?

Thrones health

Medically reviewed by Dr. Antonio Abreu, DNP
Written by Thrones Editorial Team

viagra pills for diabetics

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common health issues that men need to watch out for. At some point in life, most men will experience difficulty getting an erection, maintaining it, or both, thus leading to a loss of sexual satisfaction.

More than it being a case of a loss of pleasure in that important aspect of a man’s life, it could also become a strong predictor concerning health issues such as cardiovascular disorders and diabetes mellitus, among others.

Even though erectile dysfunction is a common issue amongst men, most especially older adult men, it’s nothing to be taken lightly due to the potential health issues that it is commonly associated with. 

One of the major health issues often associated with erectile dysfunction is diabetes. A chronic health condition, getting diagnosed with diabetes is a lifelong matter that will need to be dealt with a lot of medicines and a healthy lifestyle change. It is a condition affecting how the body processes food and stores energy. Having too much blood sugar in the bloodstream could lead to numerous health conditions and one of them is E.D.

Technically, diabetes and erectile dysfunction are two very different conditions, but they often develop side by side. According to a study from the Boston University Medical Center, 50% of the men with classified T2 Diabetes Mellitus consequently experience erectile dysfunction after a decade or within a minimum of half a decade. Moreover, for men with cardiovascular health conditions, the likelihood of developing E.D. is even greater.

The Connection Between E.D. and Diabetes

There is an undeniable link between erectile dysfunction and diabetes where most of it affects the circulatory process and the body’s nervous system. Constantly having high blood sugar can lead to damage the nerves and the blood vessels, which similarly control sexual stimulation in the body. 

With damaged nerves, a man’s sexual ability is hampered. Damaged blood vessels also correspond to reduced blood flow leading to the difficulty of getting or maintaining an erection during sexual activity.

But erectile dysfunction could become a symptom for even more serious diseases, too. Not only is E.D. associated with diabetes, but even other serious health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Men with diabetes may also experience E.D. earlier in life, or possibly precede their diabetes condition. This chronic health problem is not easy to deal with as it can pose a real challenge for many. Not only does it obviously affect one’s physical vitality, but it could in turn disrupt a person’s mental and emotional well-being and closest relationships.

All hope is not lost, however, as both diabetes and erectile dysfunction can be overcome. A change towards a healthier lifestyle and the right medicines have the potential to improve a diabetic person’s way of life. Having diabetes does not have to be a life sentence, but it does involve conscious and healthy living in numerous aspects, including but not limited to: getting enough rest and sleep, less stress, no smoking, a more active lifestyle, and a nutritious diet.

Treating Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction

A person who wants to manage diabetic erectile dysfunction necessitates medical intervention. Once the condition is diagnosed, the doctor is very likely to prescribe medications in the form of sildenafil or more commonly known as Viagra. Other medications may also include tadalafil, avanafil, and vardenafil.

There are also alternative treatments like vacuum-constriction devices (pumps) or penile implants, but oral medications are the most common approaches to erectile dysfunction treatment because they are safer, more effective, faster, and come with fewer complications.

What prescription medications do to treat erectile dysfunction is improve the blood circulation in the penis, so as to aid in the process of sexual stimulation, helping men to get an erection and maintain it within a reasonable amount of time. Generally, oral medications are well-tolerated by men and come with high effectiveness rates. 

The Viagra Pill for Diabetics

One of the more common oral medications for erectile dysfunction is sildenafil citrate, more commonly known as Viagra pill. Treating E.D. with sildenafil is proven effective according to conducted studies determining its efficacy for patients with ED and diabetes, respectively.

In a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, in its efforts to determine the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate in treating erectile dysfunction for men with T1 diabetes, results indicated that sildenafil was highly effective. Not only that, it documented higher percentages of successful intercourse, and more importantly, was well-tolerated and safe for the sample of men in the study (with type 1 diabetes). Regardless of how severe their condition of ED was, there was an overall improvement in the penile function resulting from the oral medication. Side effects have also been reported to be mild to moderate.

In a separate clinical study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, successful results were also noted on both the efficacy and safety of sildenafil specifically for men with type 2 diabetes. There was a significant improvement in the men’s capacity to get and maintain an erection, as well as an increase in the percentage of successful intercourse brought by intake of the medicine. Overall, the prescribed medicine was safe, well-tolerated, and recorded mild to moderate side effects in severity.

Sildenafil: Benefits of Viagra Pill for Men

There are certain factors that could potentially influence the time duration for sildenafil to take effect and start working. Generally speaking, it takes half an hour or 30 minutes up to one hour to create noticeable results. Occasionally, Viagra pill could also take as long as 2 hours to begin to work lasting up to 2 or 5 hours before it loses effect. The length of time it remains effective often depends on how a person’s body metabolizes it.

Viagra eases blood flow to the penis and helps with sexual stimulation. As a result, it helps with creating an erection and maintaining it, contributing to a better sexual experience. However, sildenafil does not work on its own and still depends on the presence of sexual arousal for an erection to become possible.

Like most medications, the Viagra pill has some side effects that may include headaches, nausea, nasal congestions, diarrhea, and redness in the upper part of the body, among others. However, adverse reactions to the drug have not been reported with the use of Viagra pill, even for men with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, as presented in the clinical studies.

In Conclusion:

Diabetes as a chronic health condition often goes hand in hand with erectile dysfunction. Prescribing the use of sildenafil (Viagra) is common for diabetic men and does not pose any major health risks. Having diabetes is not seen to interfere with a person’s intake of sildenafil, on the other hand, it even enhances the sexual experience. More importantly, it has been noted to be safe and effective for men’s use, even those with T1 and T2 diabetics.

Having diabetes predisposes a person to erectile dysfunction, but even if diabetes is a known chronic health condition, E.D. can be overcome with the right medications. In other cases, alternative treatments are also possible, such as penile implants, pumps, or even therapy. As this is not an easy topic for most men to talk about or admit, erectile dysfunction could create more difficulties in a person’s health and well-being, even in their closest relationships. This is something we hope you can overcome with the help of Thrones Health, for that is what we were born to do and assist you with. A discreet telemedicine online service, we cater to men’s sensitive healthcare issues and concerns.

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