The effect of diabetes mellitus treatment and good glycemic control on the erectile function in men with diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction: A pilot study

Introduction. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, efficacy and/or long-term satisfaction with most of those ED treatment options have been suboptimal. Aim. In this study we try to evaluate the effect of aggressive treatment and DM regulation on the erectile function in men with DM-induced ED (DMED). Methods. Eight type 1 and 17 type 2 diabetic subjects were included into the study. All patients had a measurement of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1(c)) levels, and completed three sessions of consecutive nights using the RigiScan Plus monitoring device before and after blood sugar control. Also International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire scores were obtained before and after blood sugar control. Results. Significant improvement was noted in FPG and HbA1(c) levels throughout the treatment period (P < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in both IIEF scores and nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) parameters after the DM regulation (P > 0.05). Conclusion. We suggest that there are probably other factors than aggressive treatment and DM regulation for treating DMED, and probably we must consider preventive strategies with pharmacological agents to prevent progressive decrease in erectile function in diabetic patients.