Viagra, Cialis and Levitra can improve sexual function in men with diabetes

Prior studies have shown the erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra can help diabetic men.

However, this study further tracks eight studies of Viagra in hundreds of men with type I and type II diabetes.

Patients using Viagra had 27 percent more successful intercourse attempts than diabetic men without sexual aides, although they did run a higher risk of side effects such as headaches, flushing and upper respiratory tract complaints.

"Viagra should be considered primary treatment for (erectile dysfunction) in diabetic men," said lead author Moshe Varde from Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.

More than 1,700 diabetic men participated in the eight studies. Half received Viagra and half took a placebo. The overwhelming majority (80 percent) of the volunteers had type II or adult-onset diabetes.

The study is published in the current issue of the Cochrane Library, a publication of the Cochrane Collaboration, a UK-based charity that evaluates research in all aspects of health care.

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