can this effect your sex drive?

[monicatheegreat]

I was wondering if diabetes, insulin resistance effect your sex drive. I am a woman, so I don't need to worry about erectile dysfunction. But before I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, my partner and I were like mad for each other. We would have to limit per times a week because of soreness! About the time I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, I became disinterested in sex. I thought perhaps it was the anxiety of it all, then I thought that it might be the weight gain (didn't feel as sexy, therefore didn't feel like sex), then we had a baby and if you have kids-no explanation necessary! But my partner is crazy about me still, despite the weight gain. I feel like I've had adequate time to accept that I have this medical challenge. Where I use to have sex between 3-7 times a week, now I am lucky to have sex once a month. During that month, I don't even think about it. I only think about it because I feel bad that I am not "in the mood" more. Sometimes I am even disgusted by the fact that adults are so consumed with sex. Can this all be mental? I know it can effect men, but can diabetes effect a woman's sex drive as well? If so, what can be done to help it? Is this common?

[Russell A.]

Monica:

If this is true, I better have my wife checked for Diabetes LOL!

Just sounds typical of having kids, no time to yourselves, etc.

Get a babysitter and go out to dinner with your hubby.

Russell

[IrishJoe]

could be stress, slight depression, health... go and talk to your doctor and yes leave kiddies with relative and check into hotel/spa!

[robbytype2]

monica , i find when my sugar is low i dont really think about sex for some reason ?? but people go through stages in life diabetic or not when the sex drive is in high gear and when it goes into cruise control having a baby usually slows it some , with a lot of other things on your mind like health as in diabetes weight gain and then care of baby its easy to put fun time on a back burner take some of the others great advice ,,get a sitter and take your mate and go somewhere and have some nice us time get your mind off every day things and talk with him about every thing but diabetes and other stress full things ...have a good time you deserve it buy your self something umm sexy to wear let him give you compliments and hear the compliments dont just blow them off or disagree with them ...hope things get better for you

[sable_032592]

just like diabetes can cause nerve damage in the legs, feet, hands, etc... i can cause frigidity in women... i don't have much want for sex these days either, and i have no kids, i actually split with my last boyfriend because i just wasn't that into sex anymore... it was more for him that i did anything, but since he wasn't an egomaniacal jerk, he wasn't into having his fun while i wasn't having any myself, so we split...

i don't know if it's the diabetes, but there can be nerve damage to the sexual organs as well... as far as the drive goes, i don't know about diabetes causing it to go, maybe you're just thinking about this too much, or maybe your hubby needs to do more to get you in the mood because of some nerve damage...

[buddy7]

Hi Monica! what a sweet name, the answer to your question is, YES!!

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to complications. In some cases, sexual performance can be affected by diabetes. Up to fifty per cent of men and twenty-five per cent of women may experience some kind of sexual problems or a loss of sexual desire as a result of the condition.

[thisstinks]

My Sex Drive Is Fine. You Just Have To Watch Out For Other Cars

[mortis505]

From

Women with diabetes may be more prone to have problems with lubrication. You may also have trouble with sexual response because of nerve damage. There are some medications that can also affect sexual response. These are things that can be addressed, but in order to get help you need to talk to your doctor about these issues. Although it may be hard to discuss these things, the best approach is to be matter-of-fact.

And a few more articles

Women, Sex, and Diabetes - Diabetes Health

Sex and Diabetes

The Sexual and Urological Problems of Diabetes on MedicineNet.com

Women, Sex, and Diabetes Information on MedicineNet.com

[monicatheegreat]

I can't believe this can cause nerve damage. On the clit? JEEZ! It's like God wants me to have no freaking fun!

Well, I am exaggerating. Not no fun. Just limited fun! Everything's limited! Everything that I like anyway. FYI, my spouse does everything to get me in the mood. She goes all out for me and still sometimes I still can't seem to get interested. But hey, I'm glad it's not just mental stuff. I have a great relationship with my partner and am not attracted to anyone else. (Barring some famous people...Brandon Jacobs or Ben Roethlisberger-that would piss her off! )

Thanks so much for the info. I am going to talk to my doctor about this. I just figured it was the kid and the mental stuff. But I have accepted that I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life and I am grateful that I have good insurance.

For my birthday, we ARE going to Wisconsin Dells. Also, for our Valentines/Anniversary we are going on a date. We are going to do replicate what we did for our first date. I'm super excited!

Thanks again!

[monicatheegreat]

Thanks to mortis 505 for the articles. It looks like from what I've read that there is like a clit pump to help with this and some women are given viagra to help with sex drive. Has anyone tried this that's a woman?

[princesslinda]

Monica, i'd suggest you talk with your gynecologist and see what he/she suggests, as they probably deal with the same situations daily.

Some women who have insulin resistance have increased testosterone levels as well...so if the insulin resistance decreases, the testosterone levels might "normalize" causing you to notice a difference.

I think when you're newly diagnosed with diabetes, it becomes the main focus of your life for awhile. There's also the depression factor. We've been given a lifechanging diagnosis, and it's there is an adjustment period.

BTW, I don't think Viagra would help with the sex drive, though it would improve circulation to the genitals, making lubrication easier.

[rotcoddam]

I was wondering if diabetes, insulin resistance effect your sex drive. I am a woman, so I don't need to worry about erectile dysfunction. But before I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, my partner and I were like mad for each other. We would have to limit per times a week because of soreness! About the time I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, I became disinterested in sex. I thought perhaps it was the anxiety of it all, then I thought that it might be the weight gain (didn't feel as sexy, therefore didn't feel like sex), then we had a baby and if you have kids-no explanation necessary! But my partner is crazy about me still, despite the weight gain. I feel like I've had adequate time to accept that I have this medical challenge. Where I use to have sex between 3-7 times a week, now I am lucky to have sex once a month. During that month, I don't even think about it. I only think about it because I feel bad that I am not "in the mood" more. Sometimes I am even disgusted by the fact that adults are so consumed with sex. Can this all be mental? I know it can effect men, but can diabetes effect a woman's sex drive as well? If so, what can be done to help it? Is this common?

First, this is a tough problem to discuss in public, so thaks for sharing.

Second, definitely see your doctor about this for a medical evaluation - thyroid hormone, anemia, etc. etc.

Third, often even if there are physiologic issues there are almost always also mental ones. Debt is a big one - not just money, but unfinished business. Lack of sleep is another. Depression is often a factor - not only is the sex drive down, but so is the general "fun" drive.

The image I go for is that of a kid. Adults recite mantras about living for the day, taking time to smell the roses, yadda yadda blah blah. Kids just - do it. They can play at a funeral. Sure they get sad or mad or anxious. But the next second they are fascinated by the shiny object in front of them. When you find yourself telling yourself to have some fun, it's too late - time to step back, get some perspective, and just have some fun.

No tv or reading in the bedroom: the bed is for sex and sleep, nothing else.

Just some random sorts of thoughts in no particular order, and many probably don't apply...

God luck with this very common yet difficult problem.