As a diabetes educator, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I am sure that there are topics that you really enjoy and are proficient at discussing with your patients, and other areas that may make you a little uncomfortable. If I mention “male sexual dysfunction,” is that a content area that you feel comfortable discussing with your patients?
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Men who have diabetes are two to three times more likely to have ED than men without diabetes. Low testosterone is another common complication for men with diabetes. While ED and low testosterone have physical and psychological causes, there are multiple treatment options for both that patients can discuss with their physicians.
In my experience with providing diabetes education in one on one and group settings, male patients frequently brought up the topic of sexual dysfunction before I did. When you provide an open and trusting environment for your patients and ask them what they most hope to learn, they will likely feel more comfortable discussing what might be considered a sensitive issue. For many of my patients, having ED served as a motivator to improve blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid control.
As educators, we need to address ALL complications with our patients, not just the ones that are our personal favorites. We need not worry so much about the details of treating ED, but to better educate our patients about what it is and that sexual dysfunction is common with diabetes.
In one study 63% of patients reported that their physician had never investigated their sexual problems. I think educators can be instrumental in helping patients be comfortable with initiating these discussions with their providers.
If you are using the diabetes Conversation Map tools, the “Continuing Your Journey with Diabetes” Map provides for an open discussion of sexual dysfunction as one of the possible long-term complications. If you have not used this tool yet, you may want to try it to initiate a conversation.
Regarding sexual dysfunction, do you have any strategies that you employ to facilitate conversation with your patients? Please share and let me know how it has worked for you.
Cathy