Hello -
This has to be a very frustrating problem for you both.
Diabetes frequently can cause this sort of problem, and it can be due to either nerve damage, impaired circulation, or a combination of both. If it is due to nerve damage Viagra and similar drugs probably will loose effectiveness over time. If, however, it is due more to impaired circulation, then Viagra might be useful. It sounds as though your husband does respond to it to some degree, just not enough to successfullly maintain an erection. I would suggest he
not increase the dose on his own, unless there is a range of doseage already included in the precription instructions, but instead to discuss this with his doctor, to see if the doctor feels it is appropriate and safe to increase it and by how much. I suspect an increase might help, but since Viagra is not without its side effects and risks (including dangerous drops in blood pressure) please be certain your husband only increases the dose with medical supervision -- or at least the doctor's OK.
There is also the distinct possibility that there is something else going on, perhaps some emotional complication, which needs to be addressed. We tend to focus on the first and most obvious cause, and the fact that your husband has been told he has erectile dysfunction secondary to
diabetes doesn't mean he might not also suffer (at least by now) from some performance
anxiety as well. All possibilities need to be explored.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck to you both. Please follow up with us as needed.
