insulin and sex drive

[vulnerable26]

Ever since I started insulin my numbers are much lower..so is my sex drive. I tired to find some kind of information online seeing if it was a side effect from either the lantus, humalog, or metformin..but have had no luck.

I always have had such a high libido and now nothing! I do not understand what is going wrong..

Is this normal?

[viranth]

I see that you are recently diagnosed, and that you A1C was 12.3%.

How current is that A1C?

I think it might have to do with you starting on insulin, and that your body has to adjust to this new way. The lower your A1C gets, the more "normal" your body becomes, and then things will get back to "normal".

I didn't notice any difference in the sexual drive, even when I was sick.

[vulnerable26]

I see that you are recently diagnosed, and that you A1C was 12.3%.

How current is that A1C?



It is not current that is from March or so. I am going for my blood work tomorrow...according to my meter my 30 day is 170.

[fgummett]

I agree with viranth... get your sugars under good control and then I suspect everything will be better.
Our bodies adapt to running "high" even though it is causing damage... I understand that there are even biochemical reasons why our brains "enjoy" a high sugar... another reason we tend to overeat sugary things. As we adjust to normal sugars it can take a bit of getting used to before everything falls back in place. :)

Have you tried to take good care of yourself and relax, take some time for yourself... long, hot, scented baths with lots of candles, a little wine, maybe a little dark chocolate..?

[Olidus]

Have you tried to take good care of yourself and relax, take some time for yourself... long, hot, scented baths with lots of candles, a little wine, maybe a little dark chocolate..?

Slow down fgummett,
Your gonna get everyons sex drive going with that kind of talk. Throw in a little Barry White and its on.
:) j/k.

I totally agree with everything that was said here. Depending on how long you have had your bgs running high like that - give your body time to adjust. Lots is going on right now that insulin is properly bieng introduced back into your system at normal levels. I know for me all kinds of things were off when I was running so high for so long. Could not think straight, was moody, basically a zombie state is what I like to call it.

You will be amazed at how things will get back to normal in no time as long as you stay on top of it :)

[fgummett]

YouTube - Barry White -Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe 1974 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=BXvHRnGe940&feature=related) ;)

[cheryl]

From my sexual drives and being diabetic for so long when I was on NPH, and what not, I didn't have much of one unless I was preggos but a1c's were awesome, when I started on lantus and my a1c's improved to the 8's yea I know but this is coming from a girl who lived in the 10-12 land....so and what not, on my quest for tighter control, and going on the pump and just using humalog, my sex drive varies.....

I have it, and now it has come back since I got used to the numbers lower one's and used to the pump and what not....

You have to remember, sometimes the "D" can take up your mind so much, that I used to think OK, am I gonna drop, I feel high I feel low...

Now I test most of the time before the "do", just to know where I am at....and then I am full swing don't think of diabetes and have fun...

But wacky bg's and getting used to it all, it might go down a bit, try checking it before the fun, and then let it go, just don't think about the "D".....for that time frame.....LOL

Cheryl

[DeusXM]

As everyone's said, the problem with running so high for a while means your body has a cockeyed view of normal. I know that for nearly a year after being diagnosed, I would be having hypos at anything below 5.2, which isn't in the hypo range.

A similar thing is probably happening now. I know that if my BG is below a certain point, I really just don't feel like it at all - probably because it's exercise and my body doesn't want to run the risk of dropping low. I can't really offer you any solutions other than stick with it for a bit, or alternatively you could, as has been suggested, find fun ways to increase your BG a bit.

The other thing is it may (note: MAY) be a side-effect from the Lantus - despite what the 'official' evidence says, there are several people on these boards (full disclosure: including me) who've had 'mood' issues on Lantus, ranging from mild depression to full on violent episodes. It's not a common side effect and many people will reasonably disagree with me but I believe, based on my purely personal experience, that Lantus can affect your moods. Whether or not this is what's happening with you, I don't know. I'd go with the BG level explanation for now.

[xMenace]

I assume you've found dx a life changing experience with penty of stress. My guess is nothing at all to do with sugars or insulin. Sexual pleasure is an extension of a happy life. It does not get turned on and off by pressing buttons. D can be like a ball & chain. Maybe you need to start focussing more on enjoying life.

The Lantus theory is a possibility. Discuss with doc. There should be no issues switching to levemir.

[Mick]

I've been on insulin for 43 years--actually, just from the time I reached puberty. I've been on many different kinds of insulin, from beef and pork NPH and regular to rDNA humulin to humalog, lantus, novolog and levemir. I have never in all of that time noticed any effect from either the insulin or diabetes in general on my sexual appetite or functioning--both have always been and remain, at age 56, extremely healthy. I'd assume either metabolic adjustment or an emotional/psychological cause.

Michael

[vulnerable26]

The other thing is it may (note: MAY) be a side-effect from the Lantus - despite what the 'official' evidence says, there are several people on these boards (full disclosure: including me) who've had 'mood' issues on Lantus, ranging from mild depression to full on violent episodes. It's not a common side effect and many people will reasonably disagree with me but I believe, based on my purely personal experience, that Lantus can affect your moods. Whether or not this is what's happening with you, I don't know. I'd go with the BG level explanation for now.

Yes that sounds like me. I wonder if it will make a preexisting depression/mood disorder worse. I will have to check with my endo about switching.

[DanG]

I've been on insulin for 43 years--actually, just from the time I reached puberty. I've been on many different kinds of insulin, from beef and pork NPH and regular to rDNA humulin to humalog, lantus, novolog and levemir. I have never in all of that time noticed any effect from either the insulin or diabetes in general on my sexual appetite or functioning--both have always been and remain, at age 56, extremely healthy. I'd assume either metabolic adjustment or an emotional/psychological cause.

Absolutely wonderful, Michael.

I am same age, I took on diabetes at age 22, but I matured very late - does physical maturing in some people cause diabetes to come on? Perhaps there is theory or experience on that?

I am looking at that Barry White youtube link and wanna show the woman that one - that is our year - and, she still has all my attention, and we love it!! - still active, very much. Barry White ain't my type of musak, but... he is a dude, fer shure.

[DeusXM]

Yes that sounds like me. I wonder if it will make a preexisting depression/mood disorder worse. I will have to check with my endo about switching.

Actually that was another thing I was going to say. I've found Lantus acts as a mood amplifier in me - if I'm happy, I'm very happy. If I'm down, I'm very depressed.