DIABETES: GENERALLY LEADS TO ED
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One of the biggest complications of diabetes is impotence or erectile dysfunction. It happens because of, as suggested by a study from the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins, more than sufficient supply of simple blood sugar in a man with diabetes.

Researchers have found that, the increased levels of one particular type of sugar in diabetic men, hinders the required chain of actions for attaining and maintaining an erection. Continuous interference of this sugar with the erectile mechanism in the body can lead to permanent erectile dysfunction in a man.

In previous studies, scientists have found that diabetes interrupted a particular enzyme which is responsible for starting the chain of vascular events resulting in erection. The Hopkins team of researchers was considering the possibility of the presence of the blood sugar named O-GlcNAc, present in high blood sugar patients to be that interrupting aspect.

Different studies confirm that about 55 to 75 percent of patients with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction. This rate is about threefold higher than those who are non-diabetic.

O-GlcNAc, the special sugar that is present in the blood of diabetics obstructs the normal chain of events required for a penile erection by inhibiting the activation of eNOS, as a result a reduced amount of Nitric Oxide occurs. Nitric Oxide production is important to have smooth muscles in the penis as it allows the penis to attain and maintain an erection. When the penis muscles are not relaxed, it is not possible for a man to get an erection, in spite of stimulation.

Arthur Burnett, M.D., a professor of urology and head of the research team says that eNOS plays important roles in both immediate erectile response and the overall health and function of the penile tissue.

These findings were published as article titled "Inactivation of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ser-1177) by O-GlcNAc in diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction," in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in august 16 issues. This research was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland Professional Development Award.

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This study gives an insight into the fundamental vascular and biological mechanism of diabetes. The vascular damage caused by diabetes is far more dangerous than just erectile dysfunction.

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