Sex and Diabetes

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Danny Martin on February 19, 2009 at 12:30pm

Hi there,
It is an interesting question. Even as a still younger individual I have in past relationships seen my Diabetes affect the mattress mombo.

I noticed that when I'm running between 70 and 110 or so I am at my most cozy and affectionate time. If the sugar runs high I am completely uninterested in relations.

I have even had an incident with my ex where I apparently became low or dropped right in the middle of the shenanigans and I woke up later to her just crying how not only upset she was at me for letting that happen but for about 10 mins before she realized what was happening just thought I wasnt interested in her during the business.

I'm not sure if this was the type of feedback you were looking for but there's something to go off I suppose.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JerryInPDX on February 19, 2009 at 12:38pm

Wow that is rough. Not sure how my better half would respond. She just knows to wake me to test if im sweating real bad for any other reason...

I am still new to the 'betes, so cant provide much input but is an interesting topic. I have seen several references to diabetes affecting testerone, and that is a scarry thought for any guy...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jill Hartley on February 19, 2009 at 4:13pm

doesn't just happen to men believe me! haha when my sugar is high all i want to do is mope + zero interest. I agree with danny on the comfort zone numbers

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JerryInPDX on February 23, 2009 at 9:38am

Right, suppose this could go bad being to high or to low. I tend to go to low as of late, think im going to have to working on the best after dinner timing... The finger poke is a big buzz kill for me.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Josephine on March 14, 2009 at 8:31am

I shouldn't find this embarrassing at this age but do. I apparently have no interest most of the time, according to Patrick. I have noticed also that if I am high I cqnnot bear him near me, strange, with my blds coming down things getting better.....We did of course manage to have two beautiful girls, so I can't have been asleep the whole time.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bernard on February 19, 2009 at 12:46pm

I'm wearing an insulin pump and CGM sensor. So before any sex happens I have to disconnect the pump. Which means I also have to remember to connect it afterwards. I forgot to connect it once and ended up with a high over 500 about 3 hours later. Also it can be hard to find that pump afterwards in the dark!

Like Danny I've found that blood sugar levels affect me a LOT. If I'm low my libido is generally low and it's hard to get an erection. If I'm over 180, I'm too lethargic for anything. So there's a fairly tight range between 90 and 170 where it all works out fine.

I don't recall having a low during sex, but I do know that it can affect my blood sugar several hours later. Thankfully the CGM helps there.

Hope this is of use. Let me know if you need more info.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arielle on February 19, 2009 at 3:40pm

I've learned to check my blood sugar before sex, because it's a lot easier to drink some juice beforehand if I'm on the low side than it is to stop in the middle for glucose. That's kind of a mood killer. On the other hand, my husband thinks it's great if I'm on the high side, because he can say, "Hey, I know a good way to bring that blood sugar down..." and it usually works!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JerryInPDX on February 23, 2009 at 9:36am

LOL it is exercise. This all makes sense, basically the same as working out. You wouldn't want to hit the gym at the low end of your comfort BG range and go hypo, sex would be about the same. Could explain alot. I seem to have lower numbers 2 hrs after a meal, than before i eat and peak really high an hr after. My educator told me some folks process the food faster than others. With this in mind, an hour after eating might be the best time for "dessert" if i can talk the "speaker of my house" into it anyway :)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cathy on February 19, 2009 at 4:04pm

wow all this seems like a romance killer. But you do what you have to. I think since I started Lantus I have lost all desire. That becomes a problem after a while. I feel like something is wrong with me and I have no desire at all. But I love my husband all the same and love to kiss and hug but not much else. I don't get it.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on February 19, 2009 at 4:10pm

Great question. I'm in my mid-40s and have been type 1 for about 28 years and am recently separated and now dating again and re-experiencing intimacy issues with new people.

When I was married, I usually kept my pump connected (I got the pump during the marriage, so I was pretty comfortable with my partner during our intimacy) and, but for the few times when there was inadvertent yanking at the tubing, the pump never got in the way, even when we were pretty active. Now that I am separated and experiencing new people who are not used to the pump, I always disconnect before friskiness, mattress mombo, etc. I haven't forgotten to reconnect, yet.

As for the impact of diabetes on "performance", as it were, I have not had blood sugar impact either libido or ability to rise to the occasion, either being high or low, but if I am not within a fairly narrow range, BG-wise, I won't be able to finish. If I'm high, that's not such a bad thing, as it definitely helps endurance, but never brings the BG down far enough to make a big difference. The extra "endurance" does help things out, but my partners have gotten a little concerned about my enjoyment if I get too worn out and stop without "finishing", so we then have to have a long conversation about the various effects of highs and lows. It does sometimes kill the afterglow.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gina Capone on February 20, 2009 at 6:15am

Hey Jill,

I made a post about Sex, Diabetes and Relationships check it out http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/28524/59789/sex-relationships

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on February 20, 2009 at 7:15am

The pump gets in the way, but, fortunately, it's removeable.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last