The aim of the study was to examine an aspect of male fertility in pat
ients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 17) compared to healthy contr
ol subjects (n = 16) using parameters of sperm motility, measured usin
g a computerized image analysis system (the Hamilton Thorn Research HT
M-2030 Motility Analyzer), as indicators of potential fertility. Withi
n the diabetic group no correlations were found between sperm motility
and age, age of onset of diabetes, duration of diabetes or glycated h
aemoglobin. When the diabetic and control groups were compared, track
speed, path velocity, progressive velocity, and lateral head displacem
ent were not significantly different, whereas linearity and linear ind
ex, measures of straightness of swimming, were significantly greater i
n the diabetic subjects (59.2 % vs 69.8 %, p=0.0005 and 76.4 % vs 83.6
%, p=0.0016, respectively). We conclude that diabetic men, in the abs
ence of complications, do not appear to be at a disadvantage in terms
of sperm motility compared to healthy individuals.