Poor circulation in legs is a serious complication of Diabetes. Unfortunately, it is quite common. Up to one third of Type 2 diabetics over the age of fifty have poor circulation in their legs. Ultimately, poor circulation can lead to an increased risk for a leg amputation.
Symptoms of Poor Circulation in the Legs
Most common symptom of poor circulation is pain in the legs. This pain comes on while walking and subsides upon resting. In severe cases, this pain is present even at rest.
In addition, legs may feel cool to the touch and has scant hair growth. Skin may be cracked. Also, toes may look dusky in more severe cases. Also, wounds are slow to heal.
What Causes Poor Circulation in the Legs?
Poor circulation develops due to narrowing of arterial blood vessels, a complication of Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Narrowing of blood vessels is a generalized process affecting all arterial blood vessels in the body. If you have blockages of the coronary arteries in your heart, you may also have blockages in the arterial blood vessels in your legs, brain and intestines.
I often see patients who have undergone angioplasty of their heart arteries but are totally unaware that they may also have poor circulation in their legs.
Diagnosis of Poor Circulation in the Legs
You should have a Doppler ultrasound test of your leg arteries if you have symptoms of poor circulation. This is a simple, noninvasive, outpatient test that can easily diagnose peripheral arterial disease in the legs.
Treatment of Poor Circulation in Diabetics
Prevention is the best treatment. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Diabetes can prevent this devastating complication of diabetes. With my five-step treatment approach to Diabetes, I have been able to prevent leg amputation in the vast majority of my patients.
Once you’ve developed poor circulation in your legs, aggressive control of diabetes – and other components of Insulin Resistance Syndrome – with appropriate drugs can prevent further progression. In this way, you may be able to save your limbs.
In patients with severe peripheral arterial disease, angioplasty or surgery is sometimes required.
Patients who smoke cigarettes are putting fuel on the fire. Smokers must quit smoking in order to prevent leg amputation.
Certain drugs such as Trental (pentoxifylline) and Pletal (cilostazol) may be helpful in the treatment of poor circulation.
Excerpts from my book, “Reverse Your Type 2 Diabetes Scientifically“
