Background and Aims

Aim: To investigate similarities and differences between men and women in self-reported psychological factors associated with sexual health and diabetes in the context of diabetes technology.

Methods

Methods: An online survey was distributed via social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn over four weeks. Questions addressed a range of psychological factors. Free text response questions enabled participants to elaborate.

Results

Results:

358 individuals participated (258 women, 100 men), aged 18-73. >80% were sexually active. Technology and other diabetes treatments played a key negative role in relationships and sexual health. Namely sites for cannulas and/or sensors (19.4% of women, 15.0% of men) and scarring (7.8% of women, 1.0% of men), as well as injection scarring/lumps/bruises (5.4% women, 1.0% of men) contributed to feeling less attractive and concerns around pain and injury by partners. 62.0% of men and 61.6% of women reported a negative impact on relationships due to the presence of diabetes, which often directly related to diabetes technology. 11.1% of men and 17.1% of women felt isolated, reported low self-esteem (13.0% of men and 7.3% of women and difficulty achieving desired weight (15.5% women, 6.0% men) Notably, many participants had also not sought help for sexual health issues (men 42.0%, women 69.4%).

Conclusions

Conclusion: Diabetes technologies decrease overall burden, but they also contribute to increased self-management tasks and potentially trigger psychological challenges associated with sexual health for men and women in similar and diverse ways. Interventions are needed to manage this trade-off and improve body image, loneliness and relationships of users.