Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sexuality Perceptions and Sexual Care Needs of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed Methods Study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was to evaluate the sexual functions of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and determine their sexuality perceptions and sexual care needs. This convergent parallel design mixed methods study was conducted with eight volunteer participants with T1DM aged 25–47 years. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, Female Sexual Function Index Scale, Erection Function International Evaluation Form and semi-structured interview form. 50% of the participants are male. Erectile dysfunction was found in all men, and sexual dysfunction was found in 25% of women. As a result of the in-depth interviews, the sexuality perceptions and sexual care needs of the participants were gathered in five categories. These were (1) Meaning, (2) Difficulties in Relationship, (3) Barriers to Getting Professional Support, (4) Help Seeking Behavior, (5) Sexual Care Recommendations. In addition, participants produced metaphors to describe their sexuality before and after T1DM. Participants produced negative metaphors after being diagnosed with T1DM. It has been observed that participants with T1DM experience physiological and psychological difficulties in their sexual lives, and they often find solutions on their own rather than seeking professional support to cope with these difficulties. As a result, individuals with T1DM need training and sexual counseling on the effects of T1DM on sexuality, how they can cope with their sexual problems, and which institutions they can apply to for solutions to their problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. International Diabetes Federation (IDF):. : Global picture: Diabetes prevalence in 2021 and projections to 2030 and 2045 (20–79 years) (IDF Diabetes Atlas, Tenth edition/2021). 34–38 (2021)

  2. International Diabetes Federation (IDF).: Diabetes in Europe (IDF Diabetes Atlas, Tenth edition/2021). 78–79: (2021)

  3. ElSayed, N.A., Aleppo, G., Aroda, V.R., Bannuru, R.R., Brown, F.M., Bruemmer, D., et al.: 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: Standards of care in diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care. 46(1), 19–40 (2023). https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ogle, G.D., Wang, F., Gregory, G.: Type 1 diabetes estimates in children and adults. Idf Atlas Reports 1–15 (2022)

  5. Yacan, L., Erol, O.: Evaluation of sexual function among women with or without diabetes. Sex. Disabil. 37(1), 77–90 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-018-9541-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yenice, M.G., Danacıoğlu, Y.O., Mert, M., Karakaya, P., Seker, K.G., Akkaş, F., et al.: Evaluation of factors affecting sexual dysfunction in female patients with diabetes mellitus. Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 64, 319–325 (2020). https://doi.org/10.20945/2359-3997000000238

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Castela, A., Costa, C.: Molecular mechanisms associated with diabetic endothelial-erectile dysfunction. Nat. Rev. Urol. 13(5), 266–274 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2016.23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kizilay, F., Gali, H.E., Serefoglu, E.C.: Diabetes and sexuality. Sex. Med. Reviews. 5(1), 45–51 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Varkonyı, T., Kempler, P.: Sexual dysfunction in diabetes. Handb. Clin. Neurol. 126, 223–232 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53480-4.00017-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Mazzilli, R., Imbrogno, N., Elia, J., Delfino, M., Bitterman, O., Napoli, A., et al.: Sexual dysfunction in diabetic women: Prevalence and differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Metab. Syndr. Obes. 8, 97–101 (2015). https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S71376

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Kouidrat, Y., Pizzol, D., Cosco, T., Thompson, T., Carnaghi, M., Bertoldo, A., et al.: High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 145 studies. Diabet. Med. 34(9), 1185–1192 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.13403

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ahmed, M.R., Shaaban, M.M., Sedik, W.F., Mohamed, T.Y.: Prevalence and differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus regarding female sexual dysfunction: A cross-sectional egyptian study. J. Psychosom. Obstet. Gynaecol. 39(3), 176–181 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2017.1318123

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Büyükkayacı, D.N.: Frequency of sexual dysfunction and its causative factors among diabetic women in Turkey. Pak J. Med. Sci. 30(3), 558–563 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bak, E., Marcisz, C., Krzeminska, S., Dobrzyn-Matusiak, D., Foltyn, A., Drosdzol-Cop, A.: Does T1DM modify sexuality and mood of women and men? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 15(5), 1–14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. American Diabetes Association: Microvascular complications and foot care: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2021. Diabetes Care. 44(Suppl 1), 151–167 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Castaldo, F., Petrizzo, M., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K.: Sexual function in young women with T1DM: The METRO study. J. Endocrinol. Investig. 40(2), 169–177 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0542-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gunbayi, I.: Knowledge-constitutive interests and social paradigms in guiding mixed methods research (MMR). J. Mixed Methods Stud. 1, 44–56 (2020). https://doi.org/10.14689/jomes.2020.1.3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gunbayi, I., Sorm, S.: Social paradigms in guiding social research design: The functional, interpretive, radical humanist and radical structural paradigms. Int. J. New Trends Educ. Their Implications. 9(2), 57–76 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wilson, T.D.: Alfred Schutz, phenomenology and research methodology for information behaviour research. New Rev. Inform. Behav. Res. 3(71), 1–15 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Creswell, J.W., Plano Clark, V.L.: Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 2nd edn. Sage Publication (2011)

  21. Creswell, J.W.: Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches: Mixed Methods (Demir, S.B., Trans.; 2nd rev ed). Eğiten Kitap Yayıncılık Org. Tic. Ltd. Şti. (2016)

  22. Creswell, J.W., Plano Clark, V.L.: Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 3rd edn. Sage publications (2018)

  23. Hoorsan, R., Lamyian, M., Ahmadi, F., Azin, S.A., Rahimiforoushani, A.: Exploring sexual life experiences and perceptions of women with diabetes: A qualitative study. Int. J. Community Based Nurs. Midwifery. 10(3), 223–233 (2022). https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2021.91530.1793

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Cooper, S., Leon, N., Namadingo, H., Bobrow, K., Farmer, A.J.: My wife’s mistrust. That’s the saddest part of being a diabetic”: A qualitative study of sexual well-being in men with type 2 diabetes in sub-saharan Africa. PLoS One. 13(9), e0202413 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202413

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Zamponi, V., Mazzilli, R., Bitterman, O., Olana, S., Iorio, C., Festa, C., et al.: Association between T1DM and female sexual dysfunction. BMC Women’s Health. 20(73), 1–7 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00939-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Kaya Erten, Z., Zincir, H., Ozkan, F., Selcuk, A., Elmali, F.: Sexual lives of women with diabetes mellitus (type 2) and impact of culture on solution for problems related to sexual life. J. Clin. Nurs. 23(7–8), 995–1004 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12273

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hintistan, S., Cilingir, D.: Sexual dysfunction in turkish men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sex. Disabil. 31(1), 31–41 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-012-9271-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Rosen, R., Brown, C., Heiman, J., Leiblum, S., Meston, C., Shabsigh, R., et al.: The female sexual function index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J. Sex. Marital Ther. 26(2), 191–208 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1080/009262300278597

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Aygin, D., Eti Aslan, F.: The turkish adaptation of the female sexual function index. Turk. Clin. J Med Sci. 25(3), 393–399 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wiegel, M., Meston, C., Rosen, R.: The female sexual function index (FSFI): Cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J. Sex. Marital Ther. 31(1), 1–20 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230590475206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Rosen, R.C., Cappelleri, J.C., Gendrano, I.I.I.: The international index of erectile function (IIEF): A state-of-the-science review. Int. J. Impot. Res. 14(4), 226–244 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900857

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Rosen, R.C., Riley, A., Wagner, G., Osterloh, I.H., Kirkpatrick, J., Mishra, A.: The international index of erectile function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology. 49(6), 822–830 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-4295(97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yıldırım, A.: In: Şimşek, H. (ed.) Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 10th edn. Seçkin Yayıncılık San. ve Tic. A.Ş. (2016)

  34. Lincoln, Y.S., Guba, E.G.: Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage (1985)

  35. Corbin, J., Strauss, A.: Basics of Qualitative Research Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, 3rd edn. Sage, Los Angeles, USA (2008)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  36. Charmaz, K., Belgrave, L.L.: Grounded Theory. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2015)

  37. Creswell, J.W.: Qualitative research methods: Qualitative research and research design according to five approaches (, Bütün, M., Demir, S.B.: Trans.; 4nd rev ed.). Siyasal Yayın Dağıtım. (2018)

  38. Landis, J.R., Koch, G.G.: The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics. 33(1), 159–174 (1977)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Bijlsma-Rutte, A., Braamse, A.M.J., van Oppen, P., Snoek, F.J., Enzlin, P., Leusink, P., et al.: Screening for sexual dissatisfaction among people with type 2 diabetes in primary care. J. Diabetes Complications. 31(11), 1614–1619 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017 07.020

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Erden, S., Kaya, H.: Sexual dysfunction and anxiety levels of type 2 male diabetics. Appl. Nurs. Res. 28(3), 239–243 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2015.04.014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Tekin Vatansever, B., Tekin, S., Karabayraktar, T., Çınkıt, B., Temizkan, Å., Orbay, E., et al.: Evaluation of erectile dysfunction risk factors in diabetic men. Ankara Med. J. 15(2), 59–66 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17098/amj.66012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Enzlin, P., Rosen, R., Wiegel, M., Brown, J., Wessells, H., Gatcomb, P., et al.: Sexual dysfunction in women with T1DM: Long-term findings from the DCCT/ EDIC study cohort. Diabetes Care. 32(5), 780–785 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2337/dc08-1164

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Coimbra, L., Teixeira, E.R.: Sexuality perception on men with diabates mellitus. Ciência, Cuidado e Saúde. 14(1), 970–977 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v14i1.17589

  44. Bilgin, Z., Kömürcü, N.: Female sexuality and evidence-based approaches. Androl. Bull. 18(64), 48–55 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Nash, J., Talisa Arya, S.: Diabetes in the bedroom: Discussing the psychological element of diabetes-related sexual difficulties. J. Diabetes Nurs. 18(3), 101–106 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Rutte, A., Welschen, L.M., Van Splunter, M.M., Schalkwijk, A.A., de Vries, L., Snoek, F.J., et al.: Type 2 diabetes patients’ needs and preferences for care concerning sexual problems: A cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews. J. Marital Ther. 42(4), 324–337 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Çakmak, S., Nural, N.: Complementary and alternative treatment applications in chronic diseases. Turk. Clin. J Intern Med Nurs-Special Top. 3(2), 57–64 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Kaynak, Ä., Polat, Ã.: The use of complementary and alternative therapies in patients with diabetes mellitus and their relationship with diabetes attitudes. J. Gen. Med. 27(2), 56–64 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Radwan, H., Hasan, H., Hamadeh, R., Hashim, M., AbdulWahid, Z., Gerashi, M.H., et al.: Complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with type 2 diabetes living in the United Arab Emirates. BMC Complement. Med. Ther. 20(216), 1–12 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03011-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the participants of this study.

Funding

This study was not funded by any external institution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundamentals of Nursing Department, Akdeniz University Nursing Faculty, Antalya, Turkey

    Sefika Dedemoglu & Serpil Ince

Authors
  1. Sefika Dedemoglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Serpil Ince
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The both two authors participated in all the research processes.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sefika Dedemoglu.

Ethics declarations

Confict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no confict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

All participants voluntarily signed an informed consent form.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dedemoglu, S., Ince, S. Sexuality Perceptions and Sexual Care Needs of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed Methods Study. Sex Disabil 41, 785–804 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09803-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09803-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation