Impact of Diabetes on Male Fertility: The Role of Medications and Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease that significantly reduces male fertility through several pathways, including testicular dysfunction, oxidative stress, endocrine dysregulation, and chronic inflammation. Although pharmaceutical measures are necessary to keep blood sugar levels under control, some antidiabetic medications may unintentionally affect the health of men's reproductive systems. On the other hand, lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes, regular exercise, and good stress management, are non-invasive methods that improve fertility and reduce diabetes-related reproductive dysfunction. Furthermore, medicinal plants' antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and endocrine-modulating qualities and their bioactive phytochemicals have made them prospective therapeutic agents that promote spermatogenesis and lessen testicular damage. To address diabetes-related infertility, this study methodically examines the interactions between antidiabetic medications, lifestyle changes, and phytochemical therapy, highlighting the possibility of the integration of various strategies. Additionally, it promotes thorough study to improve treatment approaches and maximize the reproductive results for diabetic males. Diabetes can affect epigenetic modifications during sperm spermatogenesis, with these dysregulations potentially being inherited through the male germline and passed across multiple generations. This inheritance may elevate the risk of diabetes in offspring.