Successful non-invasive management of erectile impotence in diabetic men.

The effectiveness of a device designed to overcome erectile impotence was assessed in 10 insulin dependent diabetics with no other cause for their erectile impotence. The 10 men and their partners were instructed how to use the device, which uses suction to induce penile engorgement and maintains erection with a constriction band. After three months they answered a questionnaire about its effectiveness and acceptability, assessing these by visual analogue scales. All the patients achieved lasting erections with the device and gave high mean scores for ease of use, effectiveness, and satisfaction, but three partners refused to complete the questionnaire having failed to come to terms with using the device. One couple stopped using it because of marital disharmony. This device provides a practical alternative for the treatment of erectile impotence in diabetic men. Unlike invasive treatments, it does not necessitate lengthy assessments of autonomic, endocrine, and erectile function and is safe to use and relatively cheap.