Many different strategies have been used to overcome this, but a Cochrane Review of clinical trials shows that three phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) increased diabetic men's satisfaction with their sexual life, compared to placebo.

The PDE-5 drugs did introduce side-effects, such as headache and flushing, but these adverse reactions were not sufficiently severe to effect the men's perceived quality of life.

The data were drawn from eight trials that included a total of 1759 participants. Chosen at random, 976 were given a PDE-5 inhibitor, and 741 were given a placebo.

"If taken as prescribed and when no contra-indications exist, PDE-5 inhibitors provide a useful option for men with diabetes who suffer from erectile dysfunction," says Lead Review Author Moshe Vardi, who works at Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. - John Wiley & Sons, Inc.