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LIFE AND HEALTH

The Bitter Truth about Diabetes

By Sanchita Sharma

Rising Diabetes may cause a surge in male infertility, say UK scientists. The warning follows on tests on diabetic men that showed 60 percent higher DNA damage in their sperm compared with healthy men, reports Guardian.

Sperm disorders cause or contribute to infertility in over 40 percent of infertile couples. The UK study – found DNA breaking apart in 52 percent of sperm sells from diabetic men as compared to 32 per cent in healthy men – suggests that fertility problem s may become more widespread as diabetes rates rise in line with the obesity epidemic. In India, 10 per cent couples in the reproductive age group are infertile.

At 32 million, India has the highest number people affected by diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that India may account for 79 million of the world’s 360 million diabetics by 2030, making India home to one-fourth of the diabetes population.

“Several studies have shown diabetes also had erectile dysfunction – impotence – at some time. Men with diabetes in India may be at a greater risk of sperm damage because over 50 per cent of diabetics are diagnosed with the disorder after they have had the disease for several years,” says Dr Ambrish Mithal, senior consultant endocrinologist, Appolo Hospitals.

“Ten percent of men aged 20 and 40 years who visit my clinic with complaints of impotence have diabetes and have to be treated for it before anything else,” added Nandita Palshetkar, IV F consultant at Lilavati Hospital.