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    • 9 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      I oftentimes give myself a little insulin for when I go unplugged while changing pods, depending on what my current sensor reading is.
    • 9 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Always, until I began to increase the "cannula fill" amount. I found I need a good bit more than the (1.3u) to "prime the site" to have the next blood sugars be in goal. Just remember "every body is different". Darn than OmniPod does not let you change that amount, have to use "fake carbs". Something to consider.....
    • 9 hours, 15 minutes ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      They change all the time. Generally not in a direction to improve my health, but to increase the money in their wallet.
    • 9 hours, 16 minutes ago
      Lee Tincher likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Sometimes, which makes sense to me. It seems like it takes a while til the new insulin is absorbed.
    • 13 hours, 31 minutes ago
      KSannie likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      **cannula
    • 19 hours, 49 minutes ago
      Kathleen Juzenas likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I find a using the T-Connect app I have the main features needed, CMG, bolus, battery level and remaining insulin.
    • 23 hours, 43 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Sometimes, which makes sense to me. It seems like it takes a while til the new insulin is absorbed.
    • 23 hours, 53 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      Mostly pump because I want to quickly see insulin on board. Tandem on IPhone when holding my great-niece while she sleeps since getting my pump out of my pocket always wakes her ☺️. Dexcom app if not in need of insulin.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      usually the pump; sometimes my phone.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump (Tandem X2). Since I have to carry a work phone close to 247, I don't want to deal with two phones (device overload!). As I go about my day, looking at my pump meets my needs, I can decide to bolus etc - and edit the bolus. For more in depth data review and analysis, I use the TConnect.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I read it from my pump.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      On my insulin pump
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump. Keep it simple.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      How much of this is intentionally misleading? My mail order prescription service says that can’t possibly know the cost of a medication until after it’s been shipped, which is too late to cancel or return, of course, and makes it impossible to comparison shop.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      I have an MA in writing and lit, but gobbledegook is gobbledegook. The fancy term is obscurantism.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      They change all the time. Generally not in a direction to improve my health, but to increase the money in their wallet.
    • 1 day ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 1 day, 21 hours ago
      Sarah Berry likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump
    • 1 day, 22 hours ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      One nice thing about a watch for readings is that, while it is normally redundant, you can be separated from your phone. For example, when you are in water.
    • 1 day, 22 hours ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 1 day, 23 hours ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I selected “other” because my preference (smart watch, mobile phone, or pump screen) depends on circumstances. Watch for a quick and discrete view; pump if I’m preparing for a profile or activity adjustment or bolus, mobile phone if just a food bolus.
    • 1 day, 23 hours ago
      John Barbuto likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 2 days ago
      Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 2 days ago
      Laurie B likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I’m curious about the reasoning behind using a dedicated reader. Could someone please enlighten me?
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    Have you experienced any symptoms of physical sexual dysfunction as a result of having diabetes?

    Home > LC Polls > Have you experienced any symptoms of physical sexual dysfunction as a result of having diabetes?
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    Are your blood glucose (BG) patterns different during weekends than weekdays? Select any that apply to you.

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    If you use a device, how satisfied are you with the process of ordering replacement supplies for your sensors/sites that do not last their full standard duration?

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    " At T1D Exchange, we’re proud to announce our Medical and Research Advisory Team — an accomplished group of leaders in endocrinology, research, and quality improvement. Together, they are redefining what’s possible in type 1 diabetes (T1D) care through rigorous data analysis, innovative research approaches, and real-world implementation. Their collective expertise is central to our mission of improving outcomes for all people living with T1D.  “We’re excited to be working with our advisors given their deep expertise across a broad range of areas in T1D,” said Dave Walton, CEO of T1D Exchange. “Their involvement magnifies our reach, knowledge, and impact. These advisors are shaping the future of diabetes care — driving innovation across research, clinical practice, and quality improvement.”    Meet the Medical & Research Advisory Team  The T1D Exchange Medical and Research Advisory Team brings together four leading endocrinologists, each offering a unique perspective and shared commitment to advancing T1D care:    Jenise Wong, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco Focus areas: Diabetes technology adoption and usability; health equity and access to care and technology; community-based and peer-support interventions; culturally responsive care          Jennifer Sherr, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at Yale Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut Focus areas: Clinical trials in diabetes technology (CGM and AID systems), disease-modifying treatments and immunotherapies, and emerging technologies and medications, including continuous ketone monitoring and nasal glucagon     Viral Shah, MD Adult endocrinologist at Indiana University Health and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana Focus areas: Diabetes technology and adjunctive therapy trials; translational and data-driven research; T1D complications and bone health         Nestoras Mathioudakis, MD, MHS Adult endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland Focus areas: AI-driven clinical support tools; EMR-based data analytics for clinical decision making; data-driven quality improvement; health equity in T1D care        This accomplished team’s expertise spans adult and pediatric endocrinology, research, and quality improvement affiliated with leading institutions nationwide. Collectively, they have authored over 500 diabetes publications and secured research funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, Helmsley Charitable Trust, the American Diabetes Association, and Breakthrough T1D — while remaining actively engaged in both clinical care and research.  “These individuals represent an impressive body of work while remaining deeply involved in the day-to-day realities of diabetes care,” said Walton. Their expertise covers the full spectrum of T1D care — from AI and predictive analytics to complication prevention, automated insulin delivery, continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, GLP-1 treatments, health equity, mental health, autoantibody screening, and disease prevention.    Turning insight into impact  The team’s work goes beyond research, focusing on translating insights into real-world practice. By leveraging data to scale best practices, the goal is to drive meaningful, measurable change across clinics and communities.  “Our advisors will help to extend our impact — whether through QI strategy, research innovation, funding opportunities, or new data-driven solutions,” said Walton. “We want to take what’s working at individual centers and spread that as broadly as possible.”   He added, “As a Collaborative, we’re also focused on advanced population health strategies such as exploring predictive data models to identify risks earlier and intervene before complications even begin to happen.”    The power of the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative  Central to this work is the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) — a nationwide network of clinics working together to improve care through shared data, benchmarking, and evidence-based practices.  “I’m thrilled to serve as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange, because I’ve seen firsthand the impact this network can have on patient care,” said Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis. “T1D Exchange is the premier organization for quality improvement in type 1 diabetes, with unparalleled assets like a large EHR database and robust patient registry.”  He added that he is excited to apply his expertise in EHR research and big data analytics to generate real-world evidence across diagnosis, management, and outcomes.  Dr. Viral Shah echoed that perspective, reflecting on T1DX-QI's evolution: “I have been involved with T1D Exchange since its early days and have had the privilege of witnessing how it has transformed the quality of diabetes care across the United States. I’m delighted to return as a Medical Advisor.”  He emphasized the importance of accelerating impact. “I look forward to working closely with the team to accelerate the evidence generation and to help translate these insights to improve patient care.”   Dr. Jenise Wong highlighted the visible impact of T1DX-QI on the delivery of care. "I’m truly honored and grateful to be working with T1D Exchange as a Medical Advisor. T1DX-QI is a remarkable resource for centers that are using continuous process improvement to improve the quality of care for people living with diabetes.”  “Diabetes centers working with T1DX –QI have done amazing work using QI methodology to make care accessible and equitable for all people with diabetes,” she said. “It’s inspiring to be a part of a collaborative in which centers have been creative and thoughtful with initiatives to address individual and systemic challenges to care, improving clinical outcomes as well as the patient experience."  Looking ahead, Dr. Sherr highlighted the opportunity to build on the existing strong foundation. “I’m very excited to be working as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange,” she said. “It’s a privilege to help shape what comes next for a group that’s already doing such impactful work.”  “Sharing what’s happening in clinical practice, benchmarking across centers, and understanding outcomes is how we figure out what’s working, what’s not, and where we go next,” she said.      The future of T1D care   With this team’s vision and expertise, T1D Exchange is positioned to accelerate progress in T1D care — bridging research and real-world practice to drive meaningful, measurable impact.  Together, we look forward to advancing innovation and improving outcomes for everyone affected by type 1 diabetes.   "

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    25 Comments

    1. Steven Gill

      Guess I’ll bite.

      Prior to diagnosis I was an extremely heavy drinker, it had it’s consequences. That slowed my sexual “activities,” after diagnosis even although I all but stopped drinker (3-4 beers are a lot now) I’ve made a lot more solitude life. I made other priorities (taught myself automotive repair/small engines/appliances, rescued 19 dogs/kept 10, Mother and 3 brothers lived with me through the years, 2 nephews, got a few folks from shelters, and mentored neighbor kids). Basically kept myself too busy.

      I checked “unsure” because ummm… everything seems to work okay but work literally destroys my body (at 62 I have 20 year olds that have threatened to quit so I had to slow down). While I’ve dated kept it more in the “friend zone,” even if ummm…

      Everything seems to work okay so I clicked “unsure. “

      3
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Kathy Morison

      High sugar while having sex kills any chance of having an orgasm

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Mary Dexter

      Dyspareunia. Very painful. Went to a therapist specializing in that area to try to get those muscles to relax, but she moved to Ohio. Current doctors ignore problem with the attitude that I am old and should be glad not to do such things anymore.

      3
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. rick phillips

      Owner of penile prostheses

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. connie ker

      I felt so bad before diagnosis that I had no interest in sexual activity. Frozen shoulders from high sugars also depleted interest. My older husband was supportive and understood all too well.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Joan Fray

      Married 49 years to same guy . We are still active in that department. Not as often as he would like, but it’s fun once he initiates it. A glass of champagne before sex is a ‘must have’ for me. Woo hoo!

      5
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Ahh Life

        joie de vivre!

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. denise miller-dolan

      I was fine until menopause hit. I don’t recall the diabetes ever being a factor.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Natalie Daley

      Everything works except my husband. He’s 85 and wishes he could but that ship sailed ten years ago. Back in the day, between hip surgeries, I had to watch dropping blood sugars.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Drina Nicole Jewell

      No sexual dysfunction but we have definitely had some funny stories that involve my diabetes hahahaha and with my new tandem pump we have had some moments haha

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Dave Akers

      Interesting and uncomfortable topic… but after 18yrs T1D I believe I’m okay. It’s only when I’m LOW I have trouble “enjoying” the moment. But introducing chocolate syrup to raise blood glucose isn’t a horrible idea.

      7
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Sue Martin

      I think all the medications I have been on have significantly decreased my libido. My husband is very understanding, though he would prefer if I had more interest.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Patricia Dalrymple

      I am grateful for how honest people are being. I marked unsure because I don’t know if it was menopause or diabetes. But at some point right before a hysterectomy for a football sized non-cancerous tumor, it all went to pot. No interest, pain. Doctors don’t want to talk about it and I’m not sure I do. The doc who did my hysterectomy I may have been able to talk to but he was stripped of his medical license for cocaine use. Lots of my friends experience the same thing. It’s a problem.

      2
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Todd Thedell

        Soon after my late-in-life diagnosis was the last time I had a proper erectile function. The doctors just threw the blue pill at me but I never liked the way it makes me feel and it never really worked anyway.

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Nick Trubov

      I would have to agree!

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Mick Martin

      Absolutely! I’ve been totally impotent (suffer from erectile dysfunction) since the age of 27 … I’m 63 right now.

      Initially, I spoke with a medical doctor who was the Medical Officer for clients at the Home for Elderly, Mentally Infirm clients (that’s people suffering with one or more types of dementia [organic brain failure], and he laughed at me, presumably believing me to ‘having a laugh’ with him.

      As a Social Worker, I later referred myself for Sexual Health Counselling [Counseling] and they tried all sorts of combinations of Vitamin B compounds, hoping that that would ‘do the trick’. It didn’t. I asked to be referred on to see a Genito-Urinary Specialist who went on to carry out physical examinations, x-rays, intravenous injections with a ‘dye’ included that would show up if there were ‘leaking’ blood vessels, etc.

      I began having intracavernosal injections … the first of which was only approved, in the UK, for veterinary use on horses. I was also given a letter to carry around with me in case I was admitted to hospital for any reason and detumescence was required.

      Although this was, in my humble opinion, mildly effective I was still disappointed with the results. Further appointments were made to see a number of different ‘specialists’ who tried intrapenile implants (MUSE), oral medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), tadalafil (Cialis). I have not tried avanafil (Stendra) which MIGHT offer something that the other oral medications didn’t.

      I’ve tried vacuum therapy, but had an experience where one of the constriction bands snapped off at the ‘pull tab’ where it’s removed. I ended up anxiously using a scalpel to cut the damned thing off as I was too embarrassed to attend my local hospital and have it removed by someone that has more experience with using scalpels. 😉

      Although I still ‘get the urge’, nothing happens.

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Mick Martin

      Oops! I meant to add that I had considered a surgical implant but doctors here were reluctant to carry out the procedure due to me having diabetes and not having the best diabetes control.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. KarenM6

      I believe the answer is yes, but I couldn’t say for sure. No doctor has ever asked and I’m too mortified by the topic to bring it up myself.
      Then there’s the problem that _generally_ speaking doctors treat women in general like hypochondriacs and older women in particular get this treatment. So, even when I had the guts to bring up things like menopause etc, my concerns were pretty much dismissed.

      4
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Andrew Aronoff

      Hard to tell. I’m 69 years old. I’m not the same as I was decades ago. Age or diabetes or expectations or all three?

      1
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Ed Alley

      Yes, but not all from diabetes. I’m not in great shape, and I take a few antidepressant medications that contribute.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Molly Jones

      I still enjoy sex with my spouse, but my body feels nothing. This physical capability disappeared more than ten years ago (still not close to menopause), but I am on many medications unrelated to diabetes that could have caused this unwanted side effect.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. ConnieT1D62

      To be honest, blunt and frank – yes. In my younger years I enjoyed sex without experiencing any physical symptoms of distress or discomfort. As I aged and lived with diabetes for 40, 50, and almost 60 years intercourse became uncomfortable and painful because of vaginal dryness.

      Most health care professionals (mostly older males) in my experience never discussed the topic, nor ever mentioned possibility of sexual discomfort or dysfunction being a possibility of peripheral neuropathy in the process of aging, especially with long term type 1 diabetes. It wasn’t until I was under the care of a (1) female gynecologist and (2) a female endocrinologist that the issue was properly addressed and problem solving solutions were advised.

      To be fair, for us long-time T1Ds the medical professionals treating our diabetes in earlier days were limited in their knowledge about consequences, particularly of various peripheral neuropathies, stemming from advanced duration diabetes in the body. They just didn’t know then what they know now about how long duration diabetes affects the various body systems, including the nerves and organs of sexual function.

      2
      4 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Rick Martin

      Yes, at age 47 – 36 years after diagnosis. I tried all known therapies known to man and nothing happened – except when using injections. They worked but I could never get the dosage right and after 4 trips to the hospice due to erections lasting more than 4 years and becoming extremely painful.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Rick Martin

        Oops – not hospice – hospital. It was bad but I didn’t think I was dying!!! LOL

        4 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Wanacure

      I marked unsure, but how much inability to get an election is due to old age (77) less testosterone and how much is due to T1D for 62 years? When younger I was sexually active. Diabetes didn’t interfere. But in last 3 years, I’ve had just one orgasm. Two different pills didn’t work at all. This is why I’m considering Longevity Medical Clinic (near Seattle) and testosterone ointment applied for only 8 hours out of 24 hour day. They’re very open about how they treat men and women with sexual (or other) problems based on latest medical research. I’d keep my my present health plan coverage, and would have to pay out of pocket for such an extra….about $4,000/year. No, I’m not talking about hormone injections or oral anabolic steroids.

      4 years ago Log in to Reply

    Have you experienced any symptoms of physical sexual dysfunction as a result of having diabetes? Cancel reply

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