Sexuality and Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels in Partnered Older Adults With Diabetes

We examined associations between sexual activity, sexual quality, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels among partnered older adults with diabetes. Using longitudinal data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we studied 620 partnered respondents with diabetes aged 57 to 85 at baseline. We estimated mixed-effects models of sexual activity, frequency, and quality on HbA1c trajectories over ten years, including tests for gender differences. Results indicated that being sexually active and having sex a few times a month were associated with more favorable HbA1c trajectories compared to being sexually inactive. Emotional satisfaction was associated with worsening HbA1c trajectories for women but stable trajectories for men. Physical pleasure showed no gender differences. The findings suggest that partnered sexuality is a meaningful, gendered aspect of older adults' metabolic health that deserves greater attention as a dimension of diabetes care in later life.