This review details the epidemiology, possible mechanisms, and risk factors associated with urogenital autonomic dysfunction in diabetes. Autonomic neuropathy in diabetes is associated with various urological complications including bladder and sexual dysfunction. Several studies have reported the high prevalence of bladder and sexual dysfunction in both men and women. The DCCT/EDIC UroEDIC study examined the association between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and bladder and sexual dysfunction in a large cohort of participants with type 1 diabetes and was the first to report significant associations. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the association of urogenital complications and autonomic dysfunction in diabetes.
Keywords: Autonomic neuropathy; Bladder dysfunction; Diabetes; Erectile dysfunction; Sexual dysfunction.