Surveys and studies
In this section of the website we've put together a range of surveys and studies relating to diabetes and sexual health.
Up until now, the amount of studies carried out on men and erectile dysfunction greatly exceeds those focusing on women and female sexual dysfunction.
In the five years to April 2002, 1, 983 studies were published on sexual disorders in men with diabetes, but for the same period of time only 13 studies were published on the same subject on women.
In order to help you understand more about sex and diabetes, we have highlighted the most interesting surveys and studies. In addition, we have put together a list of medical abstracts taken from various medical journals for you to read.
The facts speak for themselves.....
In June 2005, Diabetes UK Northern Ireland invited men with diabetes, over the age of 18 to take part in a survey. Of the 2,048 men living in Northern Ireland contacted, 441 (21.5 per cent) men living with diabetes responded.
- 80.3 per cent of respondents stated they had never been provided with information regarding sexual health/sexual relationship issues associated with diabetes.
- Over 80 per cent of respondents had not received information from a healthcare professional in the past year.
- Of those respondents who stated they had been provided with information regarding sexual health/sexual relationship issues associated with diabetes, nearly 50 per cent had received information from a General Practitioner.
- In terms of user satisfaction, over 50 per cent of respondents stated they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the provision of information and psychological and emotional support.
- In terms of providing support, nearly 77 per cent of respondents prefer to speak to a doctor about sexual health/sexual relationship issues with diabetes, and 90 per cent of respondents prefer to talk to a man about the same issue.
The results of a Diabetes Health Women’s Sex Survey carried out in May 2007 also revealed some interesting findings:
- 85 per cent of respondents’ partners ‘don’t mind’ their diabetes
- 15 per cent have experienced rejection by their partners because of their diabetes
- 14 per cent of respondents’ partners have a problem with their diabetes
- 54 per cent have had their partner blame their mood on low blood sugar
- 50 per cent have difficulty relaxing their self-scrutiny during sex
- 19 per cent say that plain awkwardness due to diabetes is more distracting than any physical changes
- 57 per cent feel that sex is harder because of diabetes
- 24 per cent feel that sex is just too difficult because of diabetes.