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Beyond the bedroom – erectile dysfunction as a clinical clue in diabetes care
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent but often under-discussed complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and is one with significant implications for a clients’ physical and emotional health.
A global umbrella review (Kitaw et al., 2024) found that 65.8% of men with diabetes suffer from ED, with advancing age, longer diabetes duration, peripheral vascular disease and obesity identified as significant risk factors. Meanwhile, a cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia (Alswat et al., 2024) reported that 52% of men with T2D had moderate-to-severe ED – strong associations with socioeconomic status, sedentary lifestyle and depression were noted. The study also revealed a bidirectional relationship between ED and depression, with participants reporting more severe ED also being more likely to experience depressive symptoms.
Both articles we will discuss in the session emphasize the importance of routine ED screening in diabetes care, along with psychosocial assessments. Healthcare providers should adopt a multidisciplinary approach that includes optimising glycaemic management, identifying and treating comorbidities, promoting physical activity and addressing mental health.
These findings underscore the need to treat ED not only as a quality-of-life issue but also as a potential marker of broader cardiovascular and psychological risk in clients with diabetes.
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