Gonadal Dysfunction in Diabetic Men with Organic Impotence

Previous studies of the relationship of gonadal function to impotence in men with diabetes mellitus have yielded conflicting results. Pituitary-testicular function was studied in 28 impotent diabetic men and 15 normal men. Impotence was documented by clinical history and subdivided into categories of primary organic (n = 16), primary psychogenic (n = 7), and unclassified (n = 5) on the basis of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) testing, psychological testing, and penile vascular studies. All NPT parameters were diminished (P ≤ 0.001) in the impotent diabetic men compared to values in the normal men. Endocrine studies revealed increased urinary LH (P ≤ 0.05) and diminished serum free testosterone levels in the diabetic men with primary organic impotence. These changes were not found in normal men or diabetic men with primary psychogenic impotence. Six months of treatment in a home blood glucose-monitoring program resulted in significant improvement in metabolic control but no improvement in pituitary-testi...