Women with diabetes may suffer from low sex drive, study finds

CARY, N.C. — Almost half of women in the United States who suffer from diabetes reported that it has a negative impact on their sex lives, according to a new study released Tuesday by MicroMass Communications.

The research, which highlighted the need for improved education and support to help women build confidence in their ability to overcome the challenges of the disease, was conducted with a representative sample of more than 800 women with diabetes.

"Even women who have lived with diabetes for years seem to lack some basic information about the disease," stated Andi Kravitz Weiss, a behaviorist at MicroMass, who pointed out that one of the more surprising findings in the study was the discovery that 58% of those questioned did not know that the menstrual cycle can trigger changes in blood sugar.

According to the MicroMass study, some of the biggest obstacles for women with diabetes are related to lifestyle. Nearly 3-out-of-4 of those questioned had trouble managing their weight, and nearly half had trouble choosing the right foods. Half reported that controlling their blood sugar was a major challenge, and 1-out-of-3 admitted that they found it hard to take care of themselves before looking after others.

"Our research shows that women with diabetes have far more confidence in their ability to take their medications than they have in their ability to make basic lifestyle changes,” Weiss said. “As a result, healthcare providers should be providing education and support programs that help build that confidence so that women can learn how to make the lifestyle changes necessary to successfully manage their diabetes.”