Diabetics at risk for vascular diseases





Diabetes is often accompanied by peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a vascular disease that occurs when blood vessels in the legs are narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits. An estimated one in three people over the age of 50 with diabetes has this condition.


If undetected, PAD can lead to leg amputations and can place people who have it at very high risk for having a heart attack or stroke.


Since PAD is very common in people with diabetes, a group of experts brought together by the American Diabetes Association recommends that all people over age 50 with diabetes get tested for PAD. The most common test is the ankle brachial index which compares the blood pressure in the ankle to that in the arm. If the blood pressure is lower in the legs, PAD may be diagnosed. 


Warning signs for PAD may include:


•Leg pain when walking or exercising, which disappears after a few minutes of rest.


•Numbness, tingling or coldness in the lower legs or feet.


•Sores or infections on the feet or legs that heal slowly.


Some people with PAD may not notice any symptoms at all, so it’s important to be familiar with risk factors. These factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, old age, family history or having had diabetes for 10 or more years.


"PAD is an unaddressed and underappreciated problem for patients with diabetes," said Dr. Peter Sheehan, director of the Diabetes Foot and Ankle Center at the New York University School of Medicine. "While many diabetes patients with PAD do not have any symptoms, some do experience problems, such as leg pain or fatigue during walking, and attribute it to just getting older.


"These people may not feel up to their usual activities and have a greatly reduced quality of life. More critical, people with diabetes and PAD have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and stroke."


You can help to prevent PAD, heart attacks and stroke by managing the ABCs of diabetes. A is for the A1C test, which measures the average blood glucose over the past two to three months; B is for blood pressure; and C is for cholesterol.


Here are the recommended targets: 


•A1C: less than 7 percent. Check at least twice a year.


•Blood pressure: below 130/80. Check at every doctor’s visit. 


•Cholesterol (LDL cholesterol, "bad"): below 100. Check at least once a year.


If you have diabetes and you smoke, get help to quit. Tobacco use is associated with a greatly increased risk for PAD, heart attack and stroke. If you have symptoms of PAD, report these to your health care provider.


  Also, talk to your healthcare provider about taking aspirin or other antiplatelet medicines, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.


  Treatment for PAD also may include exercise rehabilitation, medicines and surgical procedures.


  The American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology are partners in an educational initiative called "Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke." For more information, call (800) DIABETES.


This story was provided by NewsUSA.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *