Having Diabetes Can Decrease Your Sex Drive—Here's Why and What to Do to Help

People with diabetes can experience low libido or reduced sexual desire, especially when blood sugars have been elevated for a long time. Diabetes can also make sexual arousal more difficult. All of this can affect your pleasure between the sheets.

Understandably your sexual health is personal, but if you have concerns, discussing them with your medical provider is the first and most important step. In some instances, sexual health problems can be indicative of another health issue. What’s more, working to manage your blood sugar can also help you have a healthy sex life with diabetes. Read on to learn more about the connection between diabetes and sexual dysfunction and what you can do about it.

The Link Between Sexual Dysfunction and Diabetes 

Chronically high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves in the body, which can affect blood flow to the vagina and penis, according to the American Diabetes Association. This can impact erections, vaginal lubrication, orgasm and more. “Diabetes is known to affect your small and large blood vessels. Prolonged years of elevated blood sugars can cause neuropathy (nerve issues) and impact your libido, mood, sleep and energy level,” says Maria Fraga, RD, CDCES, diabetes alliance program director at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Hormonal imbalances, such as low testosterone, which is more common in people with diabetes, can also impact sexual desire and arousal.

Other factors can play into sexual dysfunction when you have diabetes, such as your age, other conditions like high blood pressure or cholesterol, as well as lifestyle factors like smoking. Some of these factors are in your control, so working to improve your overall health can improve your sexual well-being, too.

8 Things to Do to Improve Your Sexual Health

1. Keep Your Numbers in Good Control

Diabetes management requires daily monitoring. It can be burdensome and tiresome, and it's important to simplify your regimen the best you can. For example, if your blood sugars are elevated because you are having trouble following your meal plan, taking your medicines or testing your blood sugar, you can reach out to your medical team to talk through how you can overcome these hurdles. For example, they may adjust your medications to better suit your lifestyle, provide recommendations about how to meal-prep, or talk to you about using a continuous glucose monitor for more seamless blood sugar testing.

2. Assess Your Medications 

Medications that are prescribed to treat conditions related to diabetes, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) can influence libido, suggests the ADA. For instance, some blood pressure medications may affect erectile dysfunction. If you’re struggling with sexual function, ask your health care team or your pharmacist if any of the medications you’re taking may have these side effects.

3. Consume Foods Rich in Fiber 

Fiber, the indigestible part of carbohydrate, is critical for blood sugar control, weight loss and maintenance, managing cholesterol and gut health. Specific recommendations vary based on age and sex, but general recommendations are to consume 28 to 34 grams of fiber per day. Fiber can be found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes. Consuming fiber-rich foods has been shown to reduce blood sugar after meals, according to a 2022 study in Foods. If you are new to eating fibrous foods, add them into your diet slowly and with adequate water to reduce the risk of gas, bloating and constipation.

4. Get Adequate Sleep 

When blood sugar is high, you may find yourself going on middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. At the same time, inadequate sleep can increase insulin resistance and make you hungrier for foods that are higher in carbs and sugar (and thus more likely to cause blood sugar spikes), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night, the CDC advises.

5. Move Your Body Daily 

Physical activity is incredibly helpful for increasing insulin sensitivity—and it’s a boon for cardiovascular health, too. When cells are more sensitive to insulin, they more readily gobble up sugar from the bloodstream for energy. Aim for 150 minutes per week, according to the CDC. Quick walks around the neighborhood,  dancing, playing pickleball, shoveling and mowing your lawn all count toward that goal.

6. Seek Emotional Support 

If your lack of sex drive has put a strain on your relationship or made you feel down, consider counseling. There are so many ways to approach therapy, from individual or couple’s counseling to sex therapy. Mood problems, such as depression, and relationship issues can both affect your sexual function and add to the physical impact of diabetes.

7. Meet with Appropriate Specialists

You may need a team of professionals to address various symptoms that can impact your sexual dysfunction. “Work with your cardiologist, endocrinologist and certified diabetes care and education specialists to understand how to best manage your diabetes,” Fraga says. This team can assist you in keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and cholesterol in a healthy range while addressing sexual symptoms such as erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness.

8. Quit Smoking 

Smoking makes diabetes worse, being linked to poor glycemic control, neuropathy, retinopathy, heart disease, inadequate blood flow and erectile dysfunction, suggests the CDC. Lighting up also damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of ED. If you’re already having trouble with desire, this can make arousal even more difficult. Quitting smoking is a challenge, so open up to your health care team about your desire to quit, and start the journey today.

The Bottom Line 

Various factors can impact sexual desire in people with diabetes. The first step in improving your libido is to notify your medical team. Next, create a treatment plan that aims to improve your blood sugar, circulation, energy and emotional health. There is no reason to suffer in silence. The good news is that with certain lifestyle changes, it is possible to have a healthy and satisfying sex life with diabetes.