Sexual relationships in couples with a diabetic partner.

This study assessed the quality of the sexual relationship in 51 couples that included a Type I diabetic partner (23 male and 28 female). Using traditional diagnostic criteria, the frequencies of sexual dysfunction was higher in diabetic than in healthy men, as in previous studies. Diagnosis based on a multiaxial system showed that both male and female diabetics had more arousal phase dysfunctions than did healthy spouses. Diabetics and healthy spouses were similar in terms of sexual initiative and discrepancies between sexual desire and activity levels. Although peripheral neuropathy was correlated with sexual dysfunction in diabetic men, a stronger predictive factor was a rating of the couple's acceptance of the diabetes. Nevertheless sexual dysfunction was blamed on the diabetes by 22 of 23 couples who had a sexual problem.