RELATIONSHIPS & SEXUAL HEALTH
What’s worth knowing when you have diabetes, to stay healthy and informed.
Being in a relationship and becoming intimate is a part of growing up. If you have diabetes, there are a few extra things to keep in mind to stay safe and healthy.
Contraceptives and protection
Two reasons it matters more than usual.
💊 Use contraceptives and condoms
- For your health and safety, prevents sexually transmitted diseases that can cause serious or long-term problems like infertility
- To avoid unplanned pregnancies, teens with diabetes have a higher risk of pregnancy complications
- If you ever want to get pregnant, talk to your medical team and your OB-GYN first, because it is important that your blood sugar levels are in check beforehand
- And remember: you can get pregnant whether or not your blood sugar is in range, high blood sugar does not protect you from pregnancy
🩺 Finding the right contraceptive
There are many different contraceptives available, and it matters that you pick the one that fits your own life and lifestyle. Your doctor or OB-GYN can help you work out which that is.
Sex and blood sugar
A few things worth knowing before and during.
Consider telling your partner about your diabetes, so they can help in case of a low.
🏃 Sex as physical activity
- Because it’s a form of physical activity, sex may lower blood sugar levels
- Low blood sugar can happen even hours after the activity
✅ To stay safe
- Have a snack before sex
- Check your blood sugar levels when you can
- Have fast carbs by the bed, just in case
Possible sexual health issues
These issues can happen to anyone: with or without diabetes, and it’s often hard to tell what’s causing them. The good news: if anything comes up, treatments are available.
👨 Men
- Decrease in sexual desire
- Erectile dysfunction (not being able to get or keep an erection long enough for sexual intercourse)
👩 Women
- Vaginal dryness
- Decrease in sexual desire
- Trouble reaching an orgasm
- Yeast infection (more likely if blood sugar is often above normal)
Talking to your doctor
💬 It’s okay to ask
If you notice any sexual health problems: whether listed here or not, don’t feel embarrassed to talk to your doctor. Doctors hear about these issues all the time, and you won’t be the first to ask. Most importantly, treatments are available to help.