Diabetes Mellitus and Other Metabolic Disorders

Patients with spinal-cord injury (SCI) may have or develop the same diseases, including a variety of metabolic disorders, as their still-ambulatory counterparts. The complications or sequelae of these conditions may compound or aggravate those related to the SCI itself. Impotence is a common complication of many metabolic disturbances, especially diabetes mellitus, and since diabetes is quite a prevalent disease, sexual dysfunction related to it may be a serious problem for SCI patients. This article will address the impact of diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and several miscellaneous metabolic disorders on sexual function.