[Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Type I Diabetes Mellitus]

To improve diabetes care according to the St. Vincent Declaration an interdisciplinary working group on erectile dysfunction in patients with diabetes was installed in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Urology and Psychiatry at the University of Graz. The screening and basic diagnostic procedures are performed in the diabetes clinic in the Department for Internal Medicine. To inform the patients about the options of treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction and to determine prevalence data an anonymous questionnaire with a pre-stamped envelope was sent to 133 male patients with diabetes mellitus type I (IDDM). 59 (44%) of the questionnaires were returned and could be analyzed. Mean age and diabetes duration were representative for the male diabetes population. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in this group was 49%. 7% of the patients were completely impotent. None of the patients reported the use of erection aids as a vacuum device or intracavernosal injection of smooth muscle-relaxant drugs. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is high among patients with diabetes mellitus type I. Modern management offers satisfactory success in most cases, therefore screening for erectile dysfunction and adequate therapy should be offered to all patients.