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Male Fertility In The Light Of Hyperglycemia: Does Diabetes Affect Sperm Count?
Does having high blood sugar affect sperm count? What is the link between sperm count and diabetes in males? How does diabetes affect the sexual and reproductive health of men?
This article explains the answers to these questions. But, first, let’s start with the basics.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disease that affects the entire body and many of its organ systems. When your body does not have enough insulin to break down the sugar in your blood, the sugar levels get excessively high, resulting in diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes can be of type 1 or type 2, each more acute than the other, causing severe health problems.
People suffering from high blood sugar levels usually have a poor lifestyle, including being overweight, having a poor diet, and lack of exercise.
Untreated diabetes can also lead to dangerous complications, including damage to blood vessels, nerves, and the foreskin. In addition, this disorder of the body results in several masculine sexual problems relating to fertility.
If you are wondering how does diabetes affect sperm count, understand the article below.
Male Infertility and Diabetes
When it comes to fertility and diabetes, males have the most to lose. Poorly controlled diabetes can damage blood vessels, nerves, and the heart and increase infection risk.
Studies also show that high glucose levels cause oxidative stress, which damages the DNA of sperm, resulting in the natural death of sperm cells.
These factors contribute to male infertility and their inability to cause pregnancy in their female partners. It must be noted that as per studies, both diabetes types, 1 and 2, contribute to male infertility.
Some conditions relating to reduced sperm count and diabetes are mentioned below.
Hypogonadism
It is a condition in which men suffer from low testosterone levels, leading to infertility with low sperm count and decreased sex drive.
Why Does It Happen?
Low testosterone levels are caused when the blood glucose concentration is not average, and the body develops insulin resistance.
What Type Of Diabetes Causes It?
This disorder is prevalent in males who have type 2 diabetes.
How Should It Be Treated?
Treatment includes testosterone replacement by injections, capsules, and implants.
Sperm Damage
It is a condition in which the male ejaculates semen with damaged sperm cells during sexual intercourse. As a result, the chances of fertilization and pregnancy in the female partner are low because there are reduced amounts of healthy sperm cells to meet the egg.
Why Does It Happen?
Oxidative stress from high blood glucose levels damages sperm. It results in sperms losing their ability to conceive.
What Type Of Diabetes Causes It?
This disorder in the sperm cells is caused by type 2 diabetes.
How Should It Be Treated?
Sperm damage can be treated by anti-oxidant therapy and daily exercise in a healthy lifestyle.
Reduced Sperm Quality
Even though studies show that diabetes does not affect sperm motility, it affects its quality. It means that there are very few sperm cells in semen. This dramatically decreases the chances of conceiving.
Why Does It Happen?
Low sperm count and diabetes are linked by nerve damage done to blood vessels due to high blood glucose levels in the body. Strenuous work and high blood pressure levels also reduce sperm cells in the male body.
What Type Of Diabetes Causes It?
As per studies, type 2 diabetes causes reduced sperm quality.
How should it be treated?
Reduced sperm quality can be treated by improving diet and daily exercise or using oral medications.
Conclusion
Diabetes can indeed grow to be a painful and problematic disorder. A low fertility rate might be a blow to many people, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a cure.
Men who want to increase sperm count should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. They should also avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and any contact with pesticides.