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How Is Peripheral Artery Disease Related To Diabetes?

Diabetic Leg Pain And Peripheral Arterial Disease

Diabetic Leg Pain And Peripheral Arterial Disease

Cramping, pain, or tiredness in the legs when walking or climbing stairs — these may not sound like symptoms of a serious condition. In fact, many people believe that they are normal signs of aging. But they can be signs of peripheral arterial disease, a severe condition that can lead to gangrene and amputation if left untreated. So if you have these symptoms, be sure to tell your doctor. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition in which arteries leading to the legs and feet (or in some cases the arms) become clogged with fatty deposits called plaque, resulting in reduced or blocked blood flow to these areas. It affects between 8 million and 12 million Americans, and people with diabetes are more likely to develop PAD than the general population. PAD is also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), leg atherosclerosis, or simply poor circulation. PAD and diabetes Anyone can develop PAD, but people with diabetes, especially those with Type 2 diabetes, have a higher risk of developing it because of a series of bodily changes associated with diabetes, including insulin resistance, a higher level of blood fats, and an increase in blood pressure. All of these contribute to arteries becoming clogged with fatty deposits, leading to the hardening and narrowing of these blood vessels. Having diabetes also increases the risk of developing neuropathy, or nerve damage, as a result of high blood glucose. Neuropathy can cause decreased sensation in the feet and legs, which can cause a person not to notice small injuries to the foot, such as blisters or cuts. If a person continues to walk on an injury, it is likely to enlarge and get infected. The combination of PAD and neuropathy is particularly dangerous because when blood flow to the feet is reduced, the body has a har Continue reading >>

Peripheral Vascular Disease - Symptoms

Peripheral Vascular Disease - Symptoms

A A A Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a circulation disorder that causes narrowing of blood vessels to parts of the body other than the brain and heart. Causes of peripheral vascular disease include peripheral artery disease due to atherosclerosis, blood clots, diabetes, inflammation of the arteries, infection, injury, and structural defects of the blood vessels. Risk factors for peripheral vascular disease include family history of premature heart attacks or strokes, age over 50 years, being overweight or obese, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood LDL cholesterol (the "bad cholesterol"), high blood triglycerides and low blood HDL (the "good cholesterol"). Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease in the legs are dull, cramping pain in one or both calves, thighs, or hips when walking, called intermittent claudication. Other symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include buttock pain, numbness or tingling in the legs, a sore on a leg or a foot that will not heal, one or both legs or feet feel cold or change color (pale, bluish, dark reddish), Tests to diagnose peripheral vascular disease include the ankle/brachial index (ABI), the treadmill exercise test, angiography (a type of X-ray), ultrasonography, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), Treatment for peripheral vascular disease includes angioplasty, which is a technique for enlarging an artery that is blocked or narrowed without surgery. Stenting may be performed for arteries that are very severely blocked locally or begin to close up again after angioplasty. A procedure called atherectomy is removal of an atherosclerotic plaque. Types of medications commonly used to treat peripheral vascular disease include antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, Continue reading >>

Peripheral Artery Disease: Symptoms, Treatments, And Causes

Peripheral Artery Disease: Symptoms, Treatments, And Causes

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels located outside the heart and brain. They are most often caused by a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries. PAD is also known as peripheral arterial disease or peripheral vascular disease (which includes both arteries and veins). PAD affects the blood vessels causing them to narrow, therefore restricting the blood flow to the arms, kidneys, stomach, and most commonly, the legs. An estimated 8.5 million people in the United States have peripheral artery disease, affecting approximately 12-20 percent of Americans over 60. Peripheral artery disease is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. PAD is more common in African-Americans than other racial groups; and men are slightly more likely than women to develop PAD. Peripheral vascular disease is also more common in smokers. Although the condition can have serious consequences, physical activity can substantially improve symptoms. Contents of this article: The best way to prevent PAD is by taking part in physical activity. Peripheral artery disease is a risk factor for more serious cardiac events. Symptoms of PAD include numbness and pain in the legs. What are the symptoms of peripheral artery disease? Experts say that around half of all people with PAD do not know they have the condition; this is because many individuals have no symptoms. Possible symptoms include: Intermittent claudication - the thigh or calf muscles may feel pain when walking or climbing stairs; some individuals complain of painful hips. Leg weakness. A foot or the lower leg may feel cold. Numbness in the legs. Brittle toenails. Toenails grow slowly. Sores or ulcers on the legs and feet that take a long time to heal (or never heal). The skin on the legs becomes shiny or t Continue reading >>

Peripheral Artery Disease (pad)

Peripheral Artery Disease (pad)

Print Overview Peripheral artery disease (also called peripheral arterial disease) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs. When you develop peripheral artery disease (PAD), your extremities — usually your legs — don't receive enough blood flow to keep up with demand. This causes symptoms, most notably leg pain when walking (claudication). Peripheral artery disease is also likely to be a sign of a more widespread accumulation of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition may be reducing blood flow to your heart and brain, as well as your legs. You often can successfully treat peripheral artery disease by quitting tobacco, exercising and eating a healthy diet. Symptoms While many people with peripheral artery disease have mild or no symptoms, some people have leg pain when walking (claudication). Claudication symptoms include muscle pain or cramping in your legs or arms that's triggered by activity, such as walking, but disappears after a few minutes of rest. The location of the pain depends on the location of the clogged or narrowed artery. Calf pain is the most common location. The severity of claudication varies widely, from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Severe claudication can make it hard for you to walk or do other types of physical activity. Peripheral artery disease symptoms include: Painful cramping in your hip, thigh or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs (claudication) Leg numbness or weakness Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won't heal A change in the color of your legs Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs Slower growth of your toenails Continue reading >>

Peripheral Arterial Disease In People With Diabetes

Peripheral Arterial Disease In People With Diabetes

ABI, ankle-brachial index CABG, coronary artery bypass graft CAPRIE, Clopidogrel versus Aspirin in Patients At Risk of Ischemic Events CLI, critical limb ischemia CRP, C-reactive protein eNOS, endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase FDA, Food and Drug Administration FFA, free fatty acid MI, myocardial infarction MRA, magnetic resonance angiogram NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB PAD, peripheral arterial disease PAI-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 PI, phosphatidylinositol PKC, protein kinase C PVR, pulse volume recording RAGE, receptor for advanced glycation end products UKPDS, U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition characterized by atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities. While PAD is a major risk factor for lower-extremity amputation, it is also accompanied by a high likelihood for symptomatic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Although much is known regarding PAD in the general population, the assessment and management of PAD in those with diabetes is less clear and poses some special issues. At present, there are no established guidelines regarding the care of patients with both diabetes and PAD. On the 7–8 of May 2003, a Consensus Development Conference was held to review the current knowledge regarding PAD in diabetes. After a series of lectures by experts in the field of endocrinology, cardiology, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, podiatry, and nursing, a vascular medicine panel was asked to answer the following questions: 1) What is the epidemiology and impact of PAD in people with diabetes? 2) Is the biology of PAD different in people with diabetes? 3) How is PAD in diabetes best diagnosed and evaluated? 4) What are the appropriate treatments for PAD in peo Continue reading >>

Peripheral Arterial Disease In People With Diabetes

Peripheral Arterial Disease In People With Diabetes

Peripheral Arterial Disease in People With Diabetes 1) What is the Epidemiology and Impact of Peripheral Arterial Disease in People With Diabetes? PAD is a manifestation of atherosclerosis characterized by atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities and is a marker for atherothrombotic disease in other vascular beds. PAD affects ~12 million people in the U.S.; it is uncertain how many of those have diabetes. Data from the Framingham Heart Study[ 1 ] revealed that 20% of symptomatic patients with PAD had diabetes, but this probably greatly underestimates the prevalence, given that many more people with PAD are asymptomatic rather than symptomatic. As well, it has been reported that of those with PAD, over one-half are asymptomatic or have atypical symptoms, about one-third have claudication, and the remainder have more severe forms of the disease.[ 2 ] The most common symptom of PAD is intermittent claudication, defined as pain, cramping, or aching in the calves, thighs, or buttocks that appears reproducibly with walking exercise and is relieved by rest. More extreme presentations of PAD include rest pain, tissue loss, or gangrene; these limb-threatening manifestations of PAD are collectively termed critical limb ischemia (CLI). PAD is also a major risk factor for lower-extremity amputation, especially in patients with diabetes. Moreover, even for the asymptomatic patient, PAD is a marker for systemic vascular disease involving coronary, cerebral, and renal vessels, leading to an elevated risk of events, such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death. Diabetes and smoking are the strongest risk factors for PAD. Other well-known risk factors are advanced age, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.[ 3 ] Potential risk factors for PAD include elevated leve Continue reading >>

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A condition in which the arteries in the legs, and sometimes the arms, are narrowed by fatty plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). Peripheral vascular disease is 20 times more common in people with diabetes than in the general population. Along with diabetes, other risk factors for peripheral vascular disease are smoking, inactivity, and high blood lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides). In people with diabetes, chronic high blood glucose raises the risk of developing peripheral vascular disease. The most common symptom of peripheral vascular disease is intermittent claudication, which is cramping leg pain brought on by walking (and usually relieved by rest) as a result of an inadequate blood supply. As the arterial blockage progresses, the pain may occur after walking less than one city block and may interfere with daily life, necessitating treatment. Another sign of peripheral vascular disease is that minor cuts or abrasions on the feet don’t heal. Peripheral vascular disease can eventually become a very serious problem. People with poor circulation in their legs tend to develop foot ulcers that don’t heal, gangrene, and the need for amputation. If you experience intermittent claudication or very slow healing of wounds on your feet, be sure to consult your health-care team. Severe, limb-threatening peripheral vascular disease is sometimes treated with surgery or endovascular techniques. Bypass surgery involves grafting a blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass the blockage in the affected vessel to restore blood flow. Endovascular (meaning “inside the blood vessel”) techniques include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (also called balloon angioplasty), atherectomy (cutting away plaque deposits), and use of lasers to clear out blood vessels. Continue reading >>

State-of-the-art Paper Peripheral Arterial Disease In Patients With Diabetes

State-of-the-art Paper Peripheral Arterial Disease In Patients With Diabetes

Atherosclerosis is a progressive process affecting multiple vascular beds; its clinical consequences, which include coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), are potentially life-threatening (1). Atherosclerotic disease in one vascular bed indicates possible disease in others (2). The risk of atherosclerotic disease is markedly increased among individuals with diabetes. The increased risk is independent of, and additive to, other cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis causes most of the death and disability in patients with diabetes, particularly in the type 2 diabetic patient population (3). The Verona Diabetes Study showed that cardiovascular disease is responsible for 44% of all-cause fatalities in the diabetic patient population (4). The duration of diabetes increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, independent of co-existing risk factors (5). Insulin resistance is a key factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Insulin resistance and its attendant metabolic abnormalities may cause much of the increased cardiovascular risk of diabetes (6). Epidemiological studies have confirmed an association between diabetes and an increased prevalence of PAD (7,8). Peripheral arterial disease is usually characterized by occlusive arterial disease of the lower extremities. Although many patients are asymptomatic, or have atypical exertional symptoms, approximately one-third experience intermittent claudication, described as aching, cramping, or numbness in the affected limb, occurring with exercise and relieved at rest (9). Peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes adversely affects quality of life (10) and is associated with substantial functional impairment (11). The reduced walking speed and dist Continue reading >>

Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Peripheral arterial disease, also called PAD, occurs when blood vessels in the legs are narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits and blood flow to your feet and legs decreases. If you have PAD, you have an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. An estimated 1 out of every 3 people with diabetes over the age of 50 have this condition. However, many of those with warning signs don't realize that they have PAD and therefore don't get treatment. If you have diabetes, you're much more likely to have PAD, a heart attack, or a stroke. But you can cut your chances of having those problems by taking special care of your blood vessels. How Do I Know Whether I'm at High Risk for PAD? Just having diabetes puts you at risk, but your risk is even greater under the following conditions: History of heart disease, or you've have had a heart attack or a stroke Family history of heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes You can't change your age or your family history, but taking care of your diabetes and the conditions that come with it can lower your chances of having PAD. Many people with diabetes and PAD do not have any symptoms. Some people may experience mild leg pain or trouble walking and believe that it's just a sign of getting older. Others may have the following symptoms: Leg pain, particularly 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 your feet or legs that heal slowly The ankle brachial index (ABI) is one test used to diagnose PAD. This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. If the blood pressure in the lower part of your leg is lower than the pressure in your arm, you may have PAD. An expert panel brought together by the Continue reading >>

Diabetes And Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Diabetes And Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Diabetes is a condition in which your body has trouble using a sugar called glucose, for energy. As a result, the sugar level in your blood becomes too high. Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) condition. It puts you at high risk for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This is a disease of arteries in the legs. If you have PAD, arteries in other parts of your body are likely diseased, too. That puts you at high risk for other serious health problems. Read on to learn how diabetes can lead to PAD and affect your health. Diabetes can hurt your arteries. If diabetes is not controlled well, blood sugar levels will be high. High blood sugar can make the artery walls rough. A waxy substance in the blood called plaque can then build up on the artery walls. This plaque contains cholesterol. This makes it harder for blood to flow through your arteries. This limits blood flow to your arms and legs, which causes damage in the tissues. The feet are most at risk of tissue damage. If tissue damage is very bad, then toes, feet, or even legs may need to be removed (amputated). But blood sugar and cholesterol levels can be controlled. This is done with nutrition and exercise. Weight loss and medication may also help. And proper foot care is very important for people with PAD. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause many complications, including: Kidney damage or kidney failure (nephropathy) Needing a toe, foot, or leg amputated (if you also have PAD) Controlling diabetes can reduce your risk for serious health problems, including: Continue reading >>

Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (pad)

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) happens when buildup on the walls of blood vessels causes them to narrow. It commonly affects people with type 2 diabetes, who are also prone to high cholesterol and heart disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1 in 3 people with diabetes over the age of 50 have PAD. Doctors most often diagnose PAD when it’s causing leg or foot problems. Since buildup and narrowing of the arteries occur in all arteries in the body, people with PAD are at high risk of heart attack and stroke. If you suspect you have PAD, it’s important to talk to your doctor. They can help you take steps to treat your symptoms and protect your heart and blood vessels. PAD affects millions of Americans, reports the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. However, people often don’t notice it. Many doctors and patients overlook subtle signs of the condition. Possible signs of PAD include: a pain in your calves when you’re walking or exercising that goes away with rest, which is called “claudication” numbness, tingling, or a feeling of pins and needles in your lower legs or feet cuts or sores on your legs or feet that don’t heal or heal slowly Sometimes, the symptoms of PAD are so subtle that you may not suspect you have a problem. In some cases, you may dismiss mild leg pain from PAD as a sign of aging and nothing more. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to your body and take potential symptoms of PAD seriously. Early treatment is essential to protecting your vascular system. If you have PAD, plaque builds up on your blood vessel walls and restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to your legs and feet. Depending on its severity, this can cause pain in your lower legs when you’re walking. It can also cause numbness, ti Continue reading >>

Peripheral Vascular Disease And Type 2 Diabetes: What's The Connection?

Peripheral Vascular Disease And Type 2 Diabetes: What's The Connection?

When blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high for too long, or swing back and forth between highs and lows, people with diabetes put themselves at risk for serious complications and damage to their bodies. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is one of the medical complications that can strike when type 2 diabetes is not well managed. Peripheral vascular disease includes several conditions that affect the blood vessels. PVD occurs when peripheral blood vessels, those located away from the heart, become blocked or damaged in some way. Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is one type of PVD; it affects arteries in the arms and legs. PVD Symptoms The main symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include: Pain in the buttocks or extremities, including the thighs or calves A blue tint to the toes Numbness in the legs or feet A heavy feeling in the limbs Cold feet Leg cramps, which often increase with more activity Skin redness Frequent infections Foot pain Wounds on the feet and toes that won't heal PVD Causes PVD occurs when plaque, which is composed of cholesterol and other fatty substances found in the blood, builds up and creates a blockage in the blood vessels, keeping blood from flowing properly. Peripheral vascular disease can be caused or worsened by: Smoking Having high blood pressure Having persistent high blood glucose levels African-Americans are at a significantly increased risk of developing PVD; people age 50 and older and people with diabetes are also at an increased risk for the condition. PVD Prevention and Treatment People with diabetes can do much to protect themselves against PVD and keep their blood vessels clear. Start by achieving good control over your diabetes with these steps: Take all diabetes medications as prescribed by your doctor. Keep blood pressu Continue reading >>

Therapy Insight: Peripheral Arterial Disease And Diabetesfrom Pathogenesis To Treatment Guidelines

Therapy Insight: Peripheral Arterial Disease And Diabetesfrom Pathogenesis To Treatment Guidelines

Therapy Insight: peripheral arterial disease and diabetesfrom pathogenesis to treatment guidelines ER Mohler III is currently Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Director of Vascular Medicine for the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA. He is former secretary of the Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology. His clinical research includes clinical trials for treatment of claudication and mechanistic studies of endothelial dysfunction and vascular medicine. Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 4, pages 151162 (2007) The increased risk of atherothrombotic events present in all patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is amplified with concomitant diabetes. Moreover, diabetes is associated with increased PAD severity. This Review summarizes atherothrombosis and PAD in patients with diabetes, and American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines for management of patients with PAD. Patients with PAD and diabetes require optimal limb care and aggressive cardiovascular risk reduction. An LDL cholesterol level of less than 1.8 mmol/l (<70 mg/dl) is the therapeutic goal in these patients, and this target should be pursued using an aggressive statin regimen. Fibrate therapy can also be indicated. -blockers and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patient populations, and these agents are recommended for use in patients with both diabetes and PAD. Blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg should be achieved, and glycated hemoglobin should be reduced to below 7%. Patients should also receive indefinite antiplatelet therapy with aspirin or clopidogrel. For patients with claudication, a supervised exercise progr Continue reading >>

Peripheral Vascular Disease (pvd, Peripheral Artery Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Pad)

Peripheral Vascular Disease (pvd, Peripheral Artery Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Pad)

There are two ways atherosclerosis causes disease; 1) atherosclerosis can limit the ability of the narrowed arteries to increase delivery of blood and oxygen to tissues during periods of increased oxygen demand such as during exertion, or 2) complete obstruction of an artery by a thrombus or embolus (thrombus and embolus are forms of blood clots; see below) resulting in tissue necrosis (death of tissue). Exertional angina and intermittent claudication are two examples of insufficient delivery of blood and oxygen to meet tissue demand; whereas strokes and heart attacks are examples of death of tissue caused by complete artery obstruction by blood clots. There are many similarities between coronary artery diseases (atherosclerosis involving the arteries of the heart) and peripheral artery disease, and the two conditions may coexist in the same individual. For example, patients with exertional angina typically have no symptoms at rest. But during exertion the critically narrowed coronary arteries are incapable of increasing blood and oxygen delivery to meet the increased oxygen needs of the heart muscles. Lack of blood and oxygen causes chest pain (exertional angina). Exertional angina typically subsides when the patient rests. In patients with intermittent claudication, the narrowed arteries in the lower extremities (for example, a narrowed artery at the groin) cannot increase blood and oxygen delivery to the calf muscles during walking. These patients experience pain in the calf muscles that will only subside after resting. Patients with unstable angina have critically narrowed coronary arteries that cannot deliver enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle even at rest. These patients have chest pain at rest and are at imminent risk of developing heart attacks. Patient Continue reading >>

Diabetes And Vascular Disease

Diabetes And Vascular Disease

Diabetics have a high incidence of stroke. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are several types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes (previously called “juvenile diabetes”) is an autoimmune disorder, in which the insulin producing beta cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system. As a result, the body cannot produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter and fuel the cells. To survive, individuals with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes (previously called “adult onset diabetes”) is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin and/or the body’s cells become resistant to insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs in some women who have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy but have never had diabetes. It affects about 4% of all pregnant women, with about 135,000 cases in the United States each year. Women who have gestational diabetes have a 20-50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the next five to ten years. Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 41 million Americans who have prediabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes. If you do not manage your diabetes or maintain healthy habits, you could develop serious health conditions, including blindness, severe kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, sores in your feet, or gangrene (dead tissue) th Continue reading >>

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