Notice numbness, swelling, or slow wound healing?
Issues due to changes in blood vessels and blood flow can arise in diabetes
Did You Know?
Diabetes increases the incidence of critical limb ischaemia (CLI) four-fold in patients with peripheral artery disease
Crack The Code!
Diabetes
Circulation
People with diabetes may experience various circulatory issues due to narrowed blood vessels and nerve damage.
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Symptoms can include cold extremities, numbness or tingling, swelling in legs, ankles, and feet, itchy skin, particularly in the lower legs, and changes in skin color in extremities
Slow wound healing and leg pain during walking are also common indicators of peripheral artery disease.
Vascular Issues Interpretation
Vascular
Health
Cold extremities, numbness, and swelling in extremities are common circulatory symptoms in people with diabetes.
What could Diabetes be saying?
Here is what you should know:
People with diabetes often face circulatory issues that manifest as cold hands and feet, numbness or tingling in extremities, and swelling in legs, ankles, and feet.
Itchy skin, particularly in lower legs and feet, skin color changes in extremities, and slow wound healing are indicators of impaired circulation. These symptoms can be exacerbated by diabetes-related changes in blood vessels and nerves.
Leg pain during walking might indicate peripheral artery disease, a severe condition that requires immediate medical attention. Regular foot care, including checking for wounds and changes in sensation, is crucial for people with diabetes to prevent complications.
Venous
Insufficiency
Swelling, tight calves, and varicose veins can indicate chronic venous insufficiency in diabetes.
What Could Diabetes Be Saying?
Chronic venous insufficiency (when your leg veins don't allow blood to flow back up to your heart properly)., often underdiagnosed in people with diabetes, can present with symptoms like leg swelling, tight calves, itchy or painful legs, and varicose veins.
These symptoms might be accompanied by brown-colored skin near the ankles and leg ulcers that are hard to treat. Understanding these symptoms is vital for early intervention to prevent further complications.
Regular leg inspections, managing fluid intake, and elevating legs when possible are part of effective self-care. If these symptoms are present, it's important to seek medical evaluation to prevent progression and manage the condition appropriately.
Claudication Concerns
Pain in legs while walking, skin changes, and color differences can be signs of claudication in diabetes.
What Could Diabetes Be Saying?
Claudication (muscle pain due to lack of oxygen that's triggered by activity and relieved by rest) is a common issue in people with diabetes, characterized by pain, burning, or tiredness in the legs and buttocks during walking. The other signs include changes in skin appearance, such as shiny, hairless, blotchy skin with sores, and differences in leg color when raised or lowered.
Recognizing these symptoms is essential for managing claudication effectively. Lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, along with medical interventions, can help in alleviating these symptoms.
Nurturing
Your Vessels
Dos and Don'ts
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Do: Regularly inspect your legs and feet, engage in physical activity, take a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods, and maintain blood sugar control.
Don't: Ignore leg pain or skin changes, neglect foot care, or delay consulting healthcare providers
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References: Based on Published Medical Literature. All references are on file. For details please connect with us at hsa@obesityinternational.org