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Researchers have found that women with diabetes are much more likely to report low overall sexual satisfaction. 

UCSF researchers also found that diabetic women receiving insulin treatment were at higher risk for the specific complications of lubrication and orgasm.

Senior author Alison Huang said diabetes is now affecting people across the board.

"Diabetes is a recognized risk factor for erectile dysfunction in men, but there have been almost no data to indicate whether it also affects sexual function in women," Huang said.

The study is available online in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Researchers questioned 2,270 women aged 40 to 80 years who were insulin-treated diabetic, non-insulin-treated diabetic or non-diabetic women, and compared their self-reported sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity, overall sexual satisfaction, and specific sexual problems (difficulty with lubrication, arousal, orgasm, or pain). They also assessed the relationships between diabetic end-organ complications (heart disease, stroke, renal dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy) and sexual function.

Nearly 500 people who participated had diabetes, and, of those, 139 were taking insulin. Overall, 64 percent of participants reported some sexual activity in the past three months. The odds of reporting low overall sexual satisfaction were more than two-fold higher in insulin-treated diabetic women, and more than 40 percent higher in non-insulin treated diabetic women, compared to non-diabetic women.

No significant differences in sexual desire or frequency of sexual activity by diabetes status were observed.

Among sexually active women, insulin-treated diabetic women were more than twice as likely to report difficulty with lubrication, and 80 percent more likely to report difficulty achieving orgasm compared to non-diabetic women, after adjusting for the same demographic and clinical factors.

The study did not examine whether the women had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, but the researchers assumed that the majority of participants had Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a common chronic condition in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association, 12.6 million or 10.8 percent of all women aged 20 years or older have diabetes.

"Based on this research, clinicians may want to consider assessing diabetic women for sexual problems, particularly among those taking insulin, and counsel them that prevention of end-organ complications may be important in preserving sexual function," Lead author Kelli Copeland said. 

The full study can be found here: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2012/08000/Diabetes_Mellitus_and_Sexual_Function_in.21.aspx