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Type 2 Diabetes & Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) results in circulation problems in the limbs, with most occurrences happening in the legs. According to the Mayo Clinic, having diabetes increases the risk of developing PAD in the future. Also, complications such as gangrene occurs more often in diabetic individuals.

  1. Features

    • PAD occurs when the body can't provide enough blood to the legs, especially when walking.

    Effects

    • Many individuals with PAD experience pain when walking or intermittent claudication. PAD may also cause leg cramps when walking. Rest usually alleviates the leg pain. PAD may also cause leg weakness, leg numbness, leg and foot sores, skin discoloration and hair loss on the legs and feet.

    Causes

    • PAD may occur as the result of atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by fatty deposits within the body's arteries.

    Treatment

    • Doctors often treat peripheral artery disease with medications to control cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure or prevent blood clot formation. The prescription medication Pletal increases blood flow to the legs.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Initially, doctors treat PAD with lifestyle modifications such as eating a healthy low-cholesterol diet, exercising regularly and refraining from smoking tobacco.

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