Diabetes Impairs But Does Not Halt Sex Lives of
Seniors and Other Older Adults
Men diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to
express a lack of interest in sex
Aug. 27, 2010 – Diabetes does not keep senior
citizens and older adults from being sexually active according to a
study of nearly 2,000 people aged 57 to 85 published in the September
2010 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. Almost 70 percent of
partnered men with diabetes and 62 percent of partnered women with
diabetes engaged in sexual activity two or three times a month,
comparable to those without diabetes.
The disease took a toll, however, on both the
desire and the rewards of sexual activity. Men diagnosed with diabetes
were more likely to express a lack of interest in sex and to experience
erectile dysfunction. Both men and women reported a higher rate of
orgasm difficulties, such as climaxing too quickly (men) or not at all
(men and women).
"Patients and doctors need to know that most middle
age and older adults with partners are still sexually active despite
their diabetes," said the study's lead author Stacy Lindau, MD,
associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of medicine at the
University of Chicago. "However, many people with diabetes have sexual
problems that are not being addressed."
"Nearly half of the women in this age group do not
have a partner," she added. "Women with diabetes are far less likely
than women without diabetes to have a partner. Those who have partners
were more likely than men to avoid sex because of a problem, and were
far less likely than men to discuss a sexual problem with their
doctors."
Only 19 percent of women with diagnosed diabetes,
as compared to 47 percent of men, had discussed sexual problems with a
physician. Men were much more likely to initiate such a discussion than
women.
The survey, performed between July 2005 and March
2006, was part of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. It
involved an in-home interview, self-administered questionnaire,
medication audit and a blood test to assess diabetes status for 1,993
participants.
It found, based on a blood test (a measure of
glycosolated hemoglobin) that 47 percent of the men had diabetes. About
25 percent of men tested were aware they had diabetes and 22 percent had
the disease but had not yet been diagnosed. Almost 40 percent of women
had diabetes: 20.5 percent diagnosed and 19 percent undiagnosed. This
was comparable to previous studies of people over 60 and consistent with
the estimate of 12 million persons with diabetes in the U.S. over the
age of 60.
Until now, very little has been known about
sexuality among people with undiagnosed diabetes, who are typically
earlier in the course of their disease and lack knowledge of their
diagnosis.
"Ignorance of the diagnosis protects individuals
from the psychological burden and stigma associated with having
diabetes," said Lindau. "The elevated prevalence of orgasm difficulties
in people unaware of their diabetes suggests that these are
predominantly physical. The erectile dysfunction and loss of interest
among men with a diagnosis may be due in part to the psychological
burden of diabetes."
The aspect of sexuality most affected by diabetes
may have been the reduction of sexual drive. The study found that a
little more than 60 percent of men without diabetes had masturbated in
the prior 12 months, but for those with diagnosed or undiagnosed
diabetes, the rate fell to about 47 percent.
Although fewer women (22.5%) reported masturbating
in the past year, about 29 percent of those without diabetes did so,
compared to 15 percent for those with the disease, diagnosed or not. As
was found in men, women with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes had a
higher prevalence of orgasm difficulties.
"Failure to recognize and address sexual issues
among middle-age and older adults with diabetes may impair quality of
life and adaptation to the disease," said Marshall Chin, MD, senior
author of the study and professor of medicine at the University of
Chicago. "Sexual problems are common in patients with diabetes, and many
patients are not discussing these issues with their physicians."
The National Institutes if Health funded the study,
through the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Additional
authors include Hui Tang, Ada Gomero, Anusha Vable, Elbert Huang,
Melinda Drum, Dima Qato, and Marshall Chin, all of the University of
Chicago.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Aug. 27, 2010 – Diabetes does not keep senior
citizens and older adults from being sexually active according to a
study of nearly 2,000 people aged 57 to 85 published in the September
2010 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. Almost 70 percent of
partnered men with diabetes and 62 percent of partnered women with
diabetes engaged in sexual activity two or three times a month,
comparable to those without diabetes.
