SEXUAL FUNCTIONING IN PERSONS WITH DIABETES - ISSUES IN RESEARCH, TREATMENT, AND EDUCATION

Diabetes mellitus affects millions of people worldwide and has well-do cumented effects on sexuality, especially as a cause of male erectile failure. This review considers research findings and methodological pr oblems in the existing literature on sexuality and diabetes, including gender-related effects. Treatment of sexual dysfunctions in diabetic persons is also covered. In general, the research strongly suggests th at neurological dysfunctions are linked to many, but not all, cases of erectile failure in diabetic men. For diabetic women, the findings ar e less cohesive, but suggest that psychological factors may be more im portant etiologically than physical ones. The interplay between physio logical and psychological factors has not been sufficiently studied fo r either gender. Related to this, most treatments for sexual dysfuncti on in diabetic men have assumed a physiologic etiology. Cultural facto rs and expectations about what constitutes ''normal'' sexuality have a dded to this bias. Psychologists could assist more than they currently do with this population, both by improving the methodologies employed in sexuality research with diabetic persons and by incorporating info rmation about sexuality in their treatment and education.