Diabetes is a complex disease that affects many parts of the body and can lead to serious health problems if not managed properly. Diabetes is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that affect the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use sugar as energy. It also helps store sugar in cells and tissues, where it belongs. When someone has diabetes, their body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it as well as it should. In this blog, we will have a look on How Does Diabetes Affect Peripheral Artery Disease, about Peripheral Artery Disease and many interesting facts. Why late? Let’s get started…
Diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin and thereby regulate blood sugar levels. Diabetes can affect the peripheral artery disease, which is a condition that causes narrowing of the arteries in the legs.
Before getting into the topic we will see what actually is PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease)
PAD happens when buildup of the walls of blood vessels causes them to narrow. According to the study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, almost 1 in every 3 individuals with diabetes over the age of 50 may experience PAD. And did you know? This condition can be commonly seen with type 2 diabetic individuals. Peripheral artery disease is often caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a disease of the arteries in the legs and feet. It occurs when there is a narrowing of the arteries, which reduces or blocks blood flow to these areas. PAD can lead to pain, cramping, numbness and coldness in the legs and feet. PAD patients are at an increased risk for developing heart problems such as coronary artery disease (CAD) or congestive heart failure (CHF).
Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when there is narrowing of the blood vessels outside of the heart, which can lead to pain in your legs when you walk or exercise. PAD often occurs alongside other conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which may contribute to its development.
- Extreme leg pain, making legs hard to walk
- Leg numbness
- Changes in the skin color
- Weak pulse or mostly no pulse in the legs or feet
- Cramping
- Shiny skin on the legs
- Erectile dysfunction
- Sores on the feet or toes
- Hair loss on the legs
- Severe coldness on the foot or legs, when compared with the other leg
Reasons for diabetes to increase the risk for developing Peripheral Artery Disease
As mentioned earlier, Diabetes already puts them at a higher risk of PAD. If one or more of the following additional risk factors are present, the likelihood of getting PAD increases even further:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure or Hypertension
- Obesity/overweight
- Physically inactive
- Smoking
- Age (especially after 65)
- Increase of amino acid
- Family history of Peripheral Artery Disease, stroke or heart conditions
- Previous history of coronary artery disease like heart attack, bypass surgery
What is the relationship between PAD(Peripheral Artery Disease) and diabetes?
The link between diabetes and PAD is complex, but the fundamental idea is that patients with diabetes are more likely to develop atherosclerosis, or plaque formation on arterial walls. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other chemicals that clog your arteries and impede blood flow. The most prevalent cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, and also because diabetic individuals are more likely to acquire atherosclerosis, they also have a higher likelihood to get PAD.
Diabetes and peripheral artery disease are two different diseases, but they can also have a relationship with each other. Peripheral vascular disease is caused by diabetes, which means that diabetes can cause peripheral vascular disease. Diabetes can also cause peripheral vascular disease because it causes narrowing of the arteries in the legs and this causes symptoms like leg pain, numbness and tingling in your feet or toes.
Diabetes increases your risk of PAD, and vice versa. Even minor signs of one disease increase your chances of contracting the other. Some of these symptoms includes
- Blood clotting: Diabetes causes blood platelets to bind together even more frequently. This expedites the process leading to PAD.
- Inflammation: The levels of specific protein will rise, when your body is inflamed. And these proteins are increased in both PAD and diabetes.
- Cell changes: Diabetes wreaks havoc on the lining of your blood vessels. This indicates your blood vessels are not quite as flexible as they should be to allow blood to flow freely. This increases your risk of PAD.
- Insulin resistance: Diabetes implies that your body does not respond properly to insulin. This disrupts the equilibrium of chemicals and other things entering and exiting the cells that lining your blood vessels. These cells cannot function as efficiently as they should, increasing your risk of PAD.
Prevention of Peripheral Artery Disease
A number of the risk variables listed above can be modified to minimize the likelihood of getting PAD or halt its development. Controlling blood glucose levels is especially crucial for those with diabetes. In most situations, PAD may be controlled with a combination of medicine and lifestyle adjustments. This can alleviate your symptoms and lessen your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
- Say no to smoking
- Have a well-balanced diet to manage your levels of blood glucose
- Take proper medications for diabetes or cholesterol only if prescribed
- Always track your Blood Pressure levels
- Keep your blood sugar levels normal
- Maintain regular physical activity
Dr. Abhilash Sandhya of the Flow Vascular Clinic is the finest in Hyderabad for diagnosing peripheral artery disease. Plaque buildup in the artery lumen is the most prevalent cause of peripheral vascular disease. These plaques occur in people who have high levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and a habit of smoking or chewing tobacco. They are more prevalent in males, although they can also occur in girls. Peripheral vascular disease is more frequent in older people, but it can develop at any point in an adult’s life. The symptoms and the clinical examination conducted by an Interventional Radiologist / Endo Vascular Surgeon are used to make the diagnosis. And treatment is determined by the severity of the disease. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or to know more info about the condition do contact our experts or click here to book a quick appointment.