The Benefits of Levitra for those with Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction (ED). The clinical data shows that the risk of ED increases three-fold in a man suffering from diabetes as against a man who is either healthy, or suffering from another condition or disease. Men often consult a doctor with ED as a first symptom of undiagnosed diabetes. If the diagnosis of diabetes is made independently, men will often notice that ED slowly appears within ten years. Approximately 9% of diabetic men aged between twenty and twenty-nine years suffer ED. This rises to 95% in those aged seventy or more years. According to Martyn A. Vickers, MD, Chief of Surgery, Togus (Maine) VA Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Urology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, those suffering from late onset or Type 2 Diabetes are more likely to suffer from ED than those who have Type 1 Diabetes. Men who find it difficult to control their blood sugar level are at greater risk of ED, whereas those who monitor and regulate their glucose level have fewer problems.

The diabetic population is at risk of ED because of the following physical effects of the disease:

* As the blood sugar level builds up, it causes damage to the peripheral nervous system and the vascular system. The greater the damage to the nerves, the less the penis is able to respond to sexual stimulation with an erection. Damaged blood vessels also carry less blood into the penis.
* Diabetes can affect the production of testosterone. As the level falls, this can increase the risk of ED.
* Diabetes also affects the production of nitric oxide synthase in the smooth muscle walls of the arteries and in the corpus cavernosum itself which prevents the erection.
* Some of the treatments for diabetes cause ulcers, hypertension and anxiety states which, in turn, contribute to ED.

A presentation of the study results from the PROVEN (Patient Response with VardENafil in Sildenafil Non-Responders) trial was made at the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Florida. They show that Bayer & GlaxoSmithKline's Levitra (Vardenafil) can help diabetic men with mild to severe ED. The research focussed on a group of men with ED who had not responded well or at all to Viagra in previous trials. One subgroup of 138 participants suffered from both diabetes and ED. For these purposes, participants were accepted as diabetic when their medical history showed red blood cell/glucose levels of HbA1c>8% and other confirmatory data.

To be admitted into the study, the men had to have failed in at least four of their last six attempts to complete sexual intercourse when using Viagra at any dose. In particular, they must all have failed at least once when using the highest available dose of Viagra, i.e. 100 milligrams. The research findings confirm that the diabetic men who took Levitra showed 58% experiencing superior erections when compared with those who were given the placebo. Summing up the findings of the PROVEN trial, Levitra helped the diabetic men to enjoy successful sexual intercourse in 33% of their attempts, as against only 6% of those making an attempt with the placebo. Dr. Alan Garber, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine hailed the significance of the PROVEN trial as showing Levitra as more successful in the treatment of ED among the diabetic population, i.e. those who are considered ‘difficult-to-treat’, having tried and failed using other treatments.